Changing anti-terror laws 'would pose security risk'

Police may have found Istanbul nightclub attacker

Turkish police say they may have found the gunman who opened fire on an Istanbul nightclub on New Year's Day killing 39 people and wounding 70 more.

Here's what we know about him:

The attacker was a lone gunman who opened fire in the Reina nightclub in the Ortakoy district of Istanbul at around 1.30am on New Year's Day
He was captured on CCTV before and after the incident
His identity has been established but officials have not publicly released his name
It is thought he is a member of the Uighur community - a Muslim group who live in western China
More than 50 people, including the suspect's wife, have been detained in connection with the attack

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Omer Celik, addressing a news conference last year. Credit: AP

A Turkish official has said changing the country's anti-terror laws would pose a threat to its national security.

The European Union wants Turkey to amend its anti-terror laws in order for its citizens to gain visa-free travel to Europe.

The initiative is part of a wider deal, signed last year, that is hoped would stem the flow of refugees and illegal migrants into Europe from Turkey.

However Turkey's EU minister, Omer Celik, reiterated Ankara's position that Brussels should not expect them to change their stance.

Last updated Thu 5 Jan 2017