Report says Turkey probing financial motive behind nightclub attack

The Turkish authorities are looking into possible financial motives behind a gunman's deadly attack on a nightclub in Istanbul, as some 150,000 U.S. dollars believed to belong to the militant were seized, local media reported on Monday.

The money was found in an operation launched by the security forces at an apartment in the outlying district of Silivri on Jan. 5, the Hurriyet daily said, citing police sources.

Police determined that the money could not be delivered to the attacker due to strict security measures enforced in the wake of the attack on Reina nightclub early on New Year's Day, in which 39 people were shot dead, the daily said.

A manhunt is continuing as the gunman managed to escape following the shooting spree, for which the Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility.

In light of the cash seizure, police believed that the militant launched the attack for financial gains rather than usual ideological reasons that are believed mostly behind IS assaults, the report said.

The Turkish authorities are also looking into possible roles of secret services in the attack, according to the report.

Turkish police have identified the attacker as Abdulgadir Masharipov, a man of Uzbek origin and is also known as Abu Muhammed Horasan. Endit