Suspect in Istanbul nightclub attack says his goal was to kill Christians

The suspect in the killing of 39 people in an Istanbul nightclub on New Year's Day has told a court that his goal was to kill Christians to exact revenge on them "for their killing acts across the world."

The gunman, identified as Abdulgadir Masharipov, initially planned to attack the area around Taksim Square, but he went to the upscale Reina nightclub instead because of the heightened security measures around the square, Reuters reported, citing Hurriyet newspaper.

"I did not take part in any acts before the Reina event. I thought of carrying out an act against Christians on their holiday, to take revenge for their killing acts across the world. My goal was to kill Christians," Masharipov was quoted as saying.

"If I had decided to do so, I would have used a gun and killed the people there (Taksim). There was no entrance to Taksim, it was swarming with police. I changed my mind after that," he added.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, and Masharipov has confessed that he is a member of the terror group.

Masharipov, who was caught in a police raid in Istanbul on Jan. 16, was charged with murder, membership in an armed terror group and attempting to overthrow the constitutional order. He said that he does not regret his actions, and he would prefer to be sentenced to death.

"It would be better if a death penalty was ruled. I threw the stun grenades after my ammunition had finished, nothing happened. I remained alive, but I had gone to die there," he said.

Turkey formally abolished the death penalty in 2002 as part of its European Union accession talks, but Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said that he would support its restoration if the parliament passes it.

Meanwhile, Turkish authorities have arrested another man in connection with the nightclub attack. The suspect, identified only by his initials A.S., was reportedly a French citizen with a Turkish background. He reportedly had in his possession a contract to rent out an apartment that was used by Masharipov.

Masharipov reportedly sent a video to his family, urging his son to become a suicide bomber when he grows up.