The Uzbek national has confessed to firing indiscriminately at a crowd of revelers at a famous nightclub in Istanbul. He claimed a Russian operative of the "Islamic State" militant group ordered him to commit the attack.
Abdulkadir Masharipov, 34, has been charged with committing multiple murders, "attempting to destroy constitutional order" and membership in an armed terrorist organization, among other offenses. He faces at least 40 life sentences for each of the victims and an additional one for the massacre as a whole.
The Uzbek national said a senior Russian operative of the "Islamic State" (IS) militant group ordered him to target the Reina nightclub on New Year's Eve last year, according to the indictment.
Fifty-six other suspects are being tried in the same process for their alleged links to the attack, including Masharipov's wife Zarina Nurullayeva, who authorities believe aided her husband with preparing the assault.
From manhunt to crackdown
After indiscriminately firing an AK-47 into a crowd of revelers at the nightclub, Masharipov escaped by disappearing into the crowd fleeing the scene. However, he was later apprehended following a weeks-long manhunt involving 2,000 police officers.
The attack remains the last of its kind claimed by IS in a major Turkish city after security services launched a major crackdown on extremist networks in Istanbul and elsewhere in the country. The operation was made possible in large part due to information provided by Masharipov.
The Reina nightclub, once frequented by Turkey's football stars and soap opera icons, has since been demolished due to violations of construction code, according to authorities.
Abdulkadir Masharipov was caught with foreign currency banknotes and various documents at a hideout in the Esenyurt neighborhood in IstanbulImage: Reuters/O. Orsal
Germany and other European countries have been hit by a wave of terror attacks claimed by IS since the militant group's rise in 2014.
What is the 'Islamic State'?
IS has gone from an obscure al-Qaida splinter group to a global phenomenon. DW takes a look at the defining aspects of the jihadi group — from its "caliphate" to its tactics.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/Al-Furqan
Where did it come from?
The "Islamic State" (IS) — also known as ISIL, ISIS and Daesh — is an al-Qaida splinter group with a militant Sunni Islamist ideology. It emerged in the aftermath of the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 and is led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Their goal is to create a worldwide "caliphate." It gained worldwide notoriety in 2014 after a blitzkrieg military campaign that resulted in the capture of Mosul.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo
Where does it operate?
IS is believed to be operational in more than a dozen countries across the world. It controls territories in Iraq and Syria. However, the group has lost much of the territory it controlled in Iraq and Syria at the height of its expansion in 2014.
Who is fighting back?
The US leads an international coalition of more than 50 countries, including several Arab nations. Russia, Iran and its Lebanese Shiite ally Hezbollah, which all support the Syrian government, also fight IS. Regional forces such as the Kurdish peshmerga (above) and US-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters, fight IS on the ground. The Iraqi army and militia have pushed IS from large parts of the country.
Image: picture-alliance/abaca/H. Huseyin
How does it fund itself?
One of IS' main sources of income has been oil and gas. At one point, it controlled an estimated one-third of Syria's oil production. However, US-led airstrikes deliberately targeted oil resources and the Syrian government as well as US-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters have retaken most oil wells. Other means of income include taxes, ransom, selling looted antiquities and extortion.
Image: Getty Images/J. Moore
Where does it carry out attacks?
IS has claimed responsibility for numerous terrorist attacks across the globe. The militant group has targeted capitals across the EU, including Berlin, Brussels and Paris. IS leaders have encouraged so-called "lone wolf" attacks, whereby individuals who support IS carry out terrorist acts without the direct involvement of the group.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/M. Spingler
What other tactics does it use?
The group uses various tactics to expand its power. IS fighters have looted and destroyed historical artifacts in Syria and Iraq in an attempt at "cultural cleansing." The group has also enslaved thousands of women from religious minority groups, including Yazidis. IS also uses a sophisticated social network to distribute propaganda and recruit sympathizers.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/J. Eid
How has it impacted the region?
IS has further exacerbated the ongoing Syrian conflict. Millions of Syrians and Iraqis have fled their homes, many traveling to Europe in pursuit of refuge. Although it has lost all of its strongholds, the militant group has left extraordinary destruction in its wake. Areas affected by the militant group's rule will likely take years to rebuild.
