[UPDATE] 39 People Killed In Attack On Turkish Nightclub

An attack on the Reina nightclub in Istanbul has left 35 patrons dead and 40 wounded.

It is believed that the gunman, allegedly dressed as Santa, burst into New Year's celebrations at the club at 1.30am.

Istanbul’s governor Vasip Sahin has referred to the tragic event as a "terror attack" but has not yet said who is believed to have carried it out.

The Guardian reports that the attacker shot a police officer and a civilian as he entered the club in the Ortakoy district of Istanbul before opening fire inside the building.

Around 500-600 people are thought to have been in the club when the attack happened early Sunday. 

The club lies on the shore of the Bosphorus Strait and it is believed that some clubbers jumped into the waters of the Bosphorus to save themselves from the attack.

The area around the club was cordoned off by police but contrary to earlier reports that the shooter has been killed, it is believed the attacker is still on the run.

[UPDATE] Reports now say at least 39 people have been killed, and 69 injured. Sixteen of the dead identified so far are foreign nationals.