Istanbul nightclub attack suspects go on trial

Istanbul, Dec 11 :  Abdulkadir Masharipov, an Uzbek national who shot dead 39 people at a nightclub here on the first day of this year, went on trial on Monday with 56 other suspects.

Masharipov confessed to the mass shooting at Reina nightclub on New Year's Eve which left 69 others injured, Xinhua news agency reported.

The gunman was charged mainly with "attempting to remove the constitutional order," "deliberately killing and deliberately attempting to kill" and "being a member of an armed terrorist organization," the NTV news channel said, as the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the shooting spree.

NTV said the prosecutors are asking for 40 times aggravated life sentences plus 1,555 to 2,397 years in jail for Masharipov.

They also want 40 times aggravated life sentences plus up to 2,385 years in jail for Zarina Nurullayeva, wife of the gunman, and two others accused of masterminding the attack.