This Is the Butcher of Istanbul: Lakhe Mashrapov from Kyrgyzstan

Michael van der Galien | 2:03 AM on January 03, 2017

Relatives cry over the Turkish flag-draped coffin of Fatih Cakmak, one of the victims of the attack at a nightclub on New Year's Day, during the funeral in Istanbul, Monday, Jan. 2, 2017. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

The jihadist responsible for the horrific attack on a club in Istanbul on New Year’s Day has been identified. His name is Lakhe Mashrapov and he’s from Kyrgyzstan, a small country in central Asia. According to Turkish authorities, the mass murderer came to Turkey with his wife and children.

Istanbul night club attacker identified as 28-year-old Lakhe Mashrapov from Kyrgyzstan. Came with his wife and children to Turkey. pic.twitter.com/p5ZJqSZdVg

— Brenda StoterBoscolo (@BrendaStoter) January 3, 2017

Mashrapov is 28 years old. It goes without saying that he’s considered to be armed and dangerous. Although the Turkish authorities have been on his trail ever since he carried out his mass murder, killing 39 innocent people, he has yet to be apprehended.

Update: Istanbul Terror Suspect Lakhe Mashrapov Speaks Out: ‘I Didn’t Do Anything!’

Michael van der Galien is the owner of Dutch news and opinion website De Dagelijkse Standard (English version: Daily Standard Global), a freelance journalist and columnist, and blogger at PJ Media. He can be contacted on Twitter: @MichaelvdGalien.