Overview
Abdulkadir Masharipov is an Uzbek jihadist and the perpetrator of the Istanbul night club attack on January 1, 2017 in which 39 people were killed and 79 others were injured. On September 7, 2020, Masharipov was sentenced to life in prison by an Istanbul court.“Suspect in deadly Istanbul nightclub attack denies charges,” Times of Israel, February 19, 2019, https://www.timesofisrael.com/suspect-in-deadly-istanbul-nightclub-attack-denies-charges/#gs.f7vd36.
Originally from Uzbekistan, Masharipov reportedly arrived in Konya, central Turkey in January 2016, illegally entering the country through the Iranian border. Masharipov and his family allegedly moved to Istanbul on December 15, 2016.“Istanbul Reina nightclub attack suspect captured,” BBC News, January 17, 2017, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38645787. According to reports, Masharipov was allegedly trained in Afghanistan and Pakistan and had ambitions to participate in the jihadist movement in Syria. The extent of his jihadist activities have yet to be fully disclosed.Bennett Clifford, “Radicalization And The Uzbek Diaspora In The Wake Of The Nyc Attacks,” GW Program on Extremism, November 2017, https://extremism.gwu.edu/sites/g/files/zaxdzs2191/f/CliffordRadicalizationandUzbekDiaspora.pdf. Additionally, there is limited information regarding Masharipov’s radicalization, but the radicalization of young people from Central Asia who then travel to Syria has been a growing trend in recent years according to scholars at the George Washington University Program on Extremism.Rengin Arslan, “Abdulkadir Masharipov: Who is Istanbul gun attack suspect?,” BBC News, January 17, 2017, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38648350; Bennett Clifford, “Radicalization And The Uzbek Diaspora In The Wake Of The Nyc Attacks,” GW Program on Extremism, November 2017, https://extremism.gwu.edu/sites/g/files/zaxdzs2191/f/CliffordRadicalizationandUzbekDiaspora.pdf.
On January 1, 2017, Masharipov opened fire at Istanbul’s Reina nightclub with an automatic rifle. Masharipov threw stun grenades to allow himself to reload and further shoot injured victims. The seven-minute attack killed at least 39 people and injured at least 79 others. Many victims were foreigners. Masharipov managed to flee the scene and ISIS quickly claimed responsibility for the attack, claiming the attack was in retaliation for Turkish support of the Syrian government in its fight against ISIS.“Top suspect in Istanbul nightclub shooting denies charges,” Associated Press, February 18, 2019, https://apnews.com/7fdc7d5e473a4e8da57f5ba6741bf676; “ Suspect arrested in New Year's jihad attack on Istanbul nightclub,” Washington Times, January 16, 2017, https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jan/16/istanbul-turkey-nightclub-attacker-arrested-report/. According to one source, it is alleged that Masharipov may have been hired by ISIS instead of being radicalized by the group.Rengin Arslan, “Abdulkadir Masharipov: Who is Istanbul gun attack suspect?,” BBC News, January 17, 2017, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38648350.
On January 16, 2017, Istanbul authorities arrested Masharipov and four others—an Iraqi man, and three women from Senegal, Egypt, and Somalia—at a flat in the Istanbul suburb of Esenyurt. Upon investigation of the flat, authorities found weapons, ammunition, two drones and nearly $200,000.“Istanbul Reina nightclub attack suspect captured,” BBC News, January 17, 2017, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38645787.
On February 18, 2019, Masharipov retracted his previous statements to police admitting his guilt, claiming he was not the man who was holding the AK-47 rifle in nightclub security footage.“Top suspect in Istanbul nightclub shooting denies charges,” Associated Press, February 18, 2019, https://apnews.com/7fdc7d5e473a4e8da57f5ba6741bf676; “Suspect in Istanbul nightclub attack denies charges: Anadolu,” Reuters, February 18, 2019, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-security-nightclub/suspect-in-istanbul-nightclub-attack-denies-charges-anadolu-idUSKCN1Q71DD. According to Masharipov, he was falsely associated with the attack by the media and he hid to evade authorities because he did not have the necessary papers to live in Turkey.“Suspect in Istanbul nightclub attack denies charges,” Middle East Monitor, February 18, 2019, https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190218-suspect-in-istanbul-nightclub-attack-denies-charges/. Over 58 suspects were on trial, with over 39 in custody.“Top suspect in Istanbul nightclub shooting denies charges,” Associated Press, February 18, 2019, https://apnews.com/7fdc7d5e473a4e8da57f5ba6741bf676; “Suspect in Istanbul nightclub attack denies charges: Anadolu,” Reuters, February 18, 2019, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-security-nightclub/suspect-in-istanbul-nightclub-attack-denies-charges-anadolu-idUSKCN1Q71DD.
On September 8, 2020, Masharipov was sentenced to life imprisonment by an Istanbul court. Masharipov was sentenced for “deliberate murder” and “violating the constitution.” His sentence does not make him eligible for parole. Masharipov also received an additional 1,368-year sentence for the attempted murder of 79 people and for carrying a weapon without a license.“Abdulkadir Masharipov: Turkish court jails man for life over Istanbul nightclub attack,” BBC News, September 8, 2020, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54070456. Additionally, Masharipov’s co-conspirator was named Ilyas Mamasaripov, who was also sentenced to more than 1,400 years in prison. Along with Masharipov and Mamasaripov, 48 other defendants—including Masharipov’s wife, Zarina Nurullayeva—were sentenced to jail for being members of a terrorist organization.“Abdulkadir Masharipov: Turkish court jails man for life over Istanbul nightclub attack,” BBC News, September 8, 2020, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54070456; Murat Kaya, “Turkey: Accused Istanbul gunman may face 40 life terms,” Anadolu Agency, January 27, 2020, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/turkey-accused-istanbul-gunman-may-face-40-life-terms/1715654.
Associated Groups
- Extremist entity
- ISIS
- Read Threat Report
- Type(s) of Organization:
- Insurgent, territory-controlling, religious, terrorist, violent
- Ideologies and Affiliations:
- Islamist, jihadist, pan-Islamist, Salafist, takfiri
- Position(s):
- Perpetrator of the 2017 Istanbul nightclub attack
ISIS is a violent jihadist group based in Iraq and Syria. The group has declared wilayas (provinces) in Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the North Caucasus. ISIS has also waged attacks in Turkey, Lebanon, France, Belgium, Iraq, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Tunisia, and Kuwait.
History
Daily Dose
Extremists: Their Words. Their Actions.
Fact:
On October 7, 2023, Hamas invaded southern Israel where, in the space of eight hours, hundreds of armed terrorists perpetrated mass crimes of brutality, rape, and torture against men, women and children. In the biggest attack on Jewish life in a single day since the Holocaust, 1,200 were killed, and 251 were taken hostage into Gaza—where 101 remain. One year on, antisemitic incidents have increased by record numbers.