A terrorist reportedly shouted 'Allahu Akbar' before shooting dead 39 people in an Instanbul nightclub packed with New Year's Eve partygoers.

Islamic State have claimed responsibility for the attack that saw a further 69 people injured as the killer stormed the Reina nightclub in Istanbul armed with an AK-47 and began blasting people at will.

Turkish police have released several pictures of the prime suspect in the attack, as the gunman remains on the run.

As many as 24 of those that died in the attack are thought to be foreign nationals but none are believed to be British.

The horror began early on New Year's Day when the gunman arrived outside the club in a yellow taxi.

He then shot dead a policeman stationed outside before storming in and opening fire with an assault rifle.

Chilling CCTV showed the killer dressed in a woolly hat shooting at random outside the club before he stormed inside.