The Islamic State have claimed responsibility for the new year’s day terrorist attack that killed 39 people in the Turkish capital of Istanbul.

A lone gunman shot up the city’s Reina nightclub in the early hours of Sunday, killing 39 and injuring others.

The gunman entered the nightclub and started firing indiscriminately, firing for as long as seven minutes in all directions before fleeing the scene.

The Islamic State (IS) have claimed responsibility for the attack. The group said in a statement that the attack was the work of one of their ‘heroic soldiers’ – according to the BBC.

A manhunt is currently underway for the suspect in the case.