this is bbc news, i'm gavin esler. the headlines at 9am. at least 39 people have been killed after a gunman opened fire in a packed nightclub in the turkish city of istanbul. the terrorists first shot and killed a police officer at the front and then he fired at people in the menu who were only there to have fun on new year's eve. this is the scene live. turkish authorities say the gunman is still at large. here, heightened security and thousands of extra police as revellers welcome in the new year across the uk. in her new year's message theresa may calls for 2017 to be a year of unity following the vote to leave the eu. as we face the opportunities ahead of us, our shared interests and ambitions can bring us together. also in the next hour, hull officially becomes the uk's city of culture. the year—long arts festival gets underway with a huge fireworks display over the humber estuary later. and coming up in half an hour, the lives of those who left us this

year including muhammed ali in review 2016. good morning and welcome to bbc news. police in turkey are hunting for a gunman who opened fire in a packed nightclub in istanbul killing 39 people and injuring many more. 16 foreigners are among the dead and around 70 other people are being treated in hospital. the gunman entered the popular reina nightclub and started shooting at about 1.30 am local time. some reports say he was dressed in a santa outfit. the attack happened in the 0rtakoy district during new year's eve celebrations. around 700 people were thought to be at the club at the time. istanbul's governor has called it a "terrorist" attack.

tu rkey‘s turkey's president has said the country must stand together in the face of terrorism. a new year celebration turned into a massacre in turkey's largest city, istanbul. this time targeting a popular nightclub around 1:15am local time. reina is located on the banks of the bosporus in the trendy 0rtakoy district. it was hosting hundreds of people for a new year celebration. at least one assailant, believed to be dressed in a santa claus costume, randomly opened fire after shooting and killing a police officer at the door. media say some guests jumped into the cold water of the bosporus to escape. the confusion of those inside still visible after. translation: i had my back turned, my husband suddenly told me to get on the floor. a man ran inside, two or three people started firing. then there was this fog.

i fainted at that moment until special forces took us out of there. they shot randomly, there were bodies lying on the floor. the governor of istanbul has called ita the governor of istanbul has called it a terrorist attack. translation: at around it a terrorist attack. translation: ataround1:15am, it a terrorist attack. translation: at around 1:15am, a terrorist attack and entertainment venue using a firearm. the terrorists first shot and killed a police officer at the front and then fired at people in the venue who were only there to have fun on new year's eve. 2016 has been a terrible year for turkey. the eu candidate country has seen over 15 attacks and an attempted coup. public gatherings for new year's eve were already restricted with around some of the attacks have been blamed on so—called islamic state and some on so—called islamic state and some on kurdish pkk militants. according to turkish state tv, more than 200

people have lost their lives. public gatherings for new year's eve were already restricted with around 17,000 police on duty and the country already nervous. but, just as it entered 2017, turkey was reminded once again that tight security cannot always prevent such a determined attack. we can see some pictures live from istanbul. there was one gunman, one armed attacker, contradiction earlier reports that there were more than one assailants. we understand that he was dressed as santa claus. he shot a policeman and civilian outside the nightclub before entering and spraying bullets. at the moment, the interior minister is saying he's still on the loose, but god willing, in the words of the turkish interior minister, we will

apprehend him. we know that there we re apprehend him. we know that there were 39 people who have been killed at least and 15 of them have so far been identified as foreigners although more bodies are yet to be identified. we have got some lines coming in from the turkish president, there are the pictures of the scene outside the nightclub. not very interesting as far as we can see, they have put up sheets to keep cameras out of what must be a terrible scene inside as the investigation continues. barack 0bama two says —— president erdogan says that attacks are designed to destabilise the country and create chaos. there will be more throughout the morning. the london ambulance service says technical problems in the early

hours of this morning meant staff in the control room were forced to log emergency calls by hand, delaying response times and treatment. the computer difficulties on what is usually the busiest night of the year began at half past midnight and lasted until 5.15am. with me is our correspondent jon ironmonger. we know that this happened at around 1230, in the early hours of the morning, technical problems at the london ambulance service control centre meant that its staff had to process all of the emergency calls coming in by pen and paper. a spokeswoman told me that inevitably this delayed emergency response times because it took longer to log and process the course. that is potentially hundreds of emergency calls, all over london. you can imagine, it happened at a:30am, with hundreds of thousands of partygoers

on the streets of london. we understand that at least some ambulances, there were difficulties tracking them in the control centre as we understand people had to use maps to go round london. at least several of the drivers were unable to operate their satellite navigation systems. we do not know what the cause of the problem is. a spokeswoman told me that they are looking into the matter at the moment. statistically is it is usually the busiest night of the year, do we know how busy it was? london ambulance service were saying that at chew am, they had had 160 incidents, —— 2am. you can read that into that but it is a huge night of revelry, a lot of people drinking, a lot of pressure on the team which makes this incident worrying. it is

pretty rare that these happen, i am told, it happens in november though, there were not the same pressures on there were not the same pressures on the team at the time. london ambulance service say that their staff are trained to cope with the situations, they frequently carry out manual exercises. a spokesman told me, we continue to prioritise oui’ told me, we continue to prioritise our response to patients with life threatening conditions and we also have additional clinicians on duty to offer advice if needed. nevertheless this seems a worrying breakdown at a critical time that could potentially put londoners at risk. there was tightened security across the uk and around the world as events took place to celebrate the start of 2017. around 3,000 police officers were on patrol in london, as leanne brown reports. big ben chimes. the sky was lit up as big ben struck midnight. tens of thousands of people lined the thames to watch the new year spectacular in london,

but among the crowded streets was a huge police presence. we always seek to learn the lessons from horrific events around the world, whether in berlin, nice or paris, last year. we can't allow the bad guys to spoil our way of life. happy new year, london! it wasn't just london with heightened security. with memories of the berlin lorry attack still fresh, security was also stepped up at celebrations across germany. new year's eve passed peacefully in australia, sydney was the first major city to start proceedings with a glittering display over their iconic harbour bridge. in dubai, fireworks shot from the sides of the world's tallest skyscraper in a lavish display. and in scotland, partygoers welcomed 2017 with the world famous hogmanay street party in edinburgh. fantastic, yes. brilliant, isn't it? first time here,

absolutely enthralling. it was brilliant, absolutely brilliant. you know how to party up here! and protection once again in america where up to 2 million people are thought to have joined the new year's eve ball in time square. but some regions of the world are still waiting for that much anticipated stroke of midnight. theresa may has called for 2017 to be a year of ‘unity and opportunity‘ following the eu referendum, which she says has exposed the divisions in britain. in her new year message, the prime minister said she would work to secure a brexit deal for everyone, whether they'd voted to leave or remain. we are no longer the 52% who voted leave and the 48% who voted remain, but one great union of people and nations with a proud history and a bright future. with me is our political

correspondent chris mason. 0ne understands why she says this, she is the prime minister or all of this, however, is the implication is there will be satisfaction for everyone, good luck with that. exactly, every prime minister wants to seek themselves as the face of unity but how can she possibly please everyone? she acknowledges in this message that the referendum campaign was divisive, she quotes the late labour mp jo campaign was divisive, she quotes the late labour mpjo cox, murdered byafar the late labour mpjo cox, murdered by a far right extremist before the referendum saying there is more that unites us than divides us. in big picture terms that is fine but in the details, there is a huge amount of division. what does brexit actually look like? there are a plethora of terms thrown around

which are meaningless mostly, a hard brexit or a soft brexit, or some little saying a clean brexit. we will get the start of the process in the next few months, people like me will be talking endlessly about article 50, the trigger for the divorce of the european union. but we'll see the start —— that will start the two—year process to separate ourselves. it will be very complicated. a telegraph columnist this morning says that 2017 will be a yawnathon because of the amount of detail there will be. whether you are the 52 or the a8, this prime minister faces are the 52 or the a8, this prime ministerfaces one of are the 52 or the a8, this prime minister faces one of the most difficult challenges of any prime minister outside war. absolutely. and she does it without having her

own mandate, having inherited david cameron's fray small majority, where she might be tempted, all of the indications are that she will not be but she might become kid to say, the numbers are tricky for me at westminster with a small majority, but the opinion polls suggest that things look rosy in the country. some opinion polls give the conservatives and massive lead over labour. the polls could be very wrong and theresa may would still win comfortable. it is really tricky for her. probably one of the biggest challenges the prime minister can face in peace time, with the country divided on so many axes, rather remain or leave, or geographically, where the vote was very strongly in the other direction, and nicola sturgeon have —— saying that there

needs to be a good dealfor scotland. he did not make any predictions, thank you! the archbishop of canterbury has also spoken of the divisions caused by the eu referendum. he's urging reconciliation, as our religious affairs correspondent martin bashir reports. surrendering to the demands of television lighting, the archbishop of canterbury prepares to deliver his new year's message in a familiar setting. justin welby returned to coventry, the city where he started out as a clergyman. a city whose wartime suffering and forgiveness, he says, serves as an example to the nation. the story of the city says so much that is true about britain at its best, about our courage standing up to tyranny, how we stand alongside the suffering and defeated, how we stand for human dignity and hope. the archbishop visited a drop—in centre for refugees, people he called a blessing to our way of life. and he drew his message to a close by focusing on an issue that has

divided so much many parts of the country. the eu referendum was a tough campaign, and it has left division. but i know that if we look at our roots, our history and our culture in the christian tradition, if we reach back into what is best in this country, we will find a path towards reconciling the differences that have divided us. from coventry to canterbury, the archbishop believes that looking back will only help us prepare for the future. a 12—year—old girl has been killed in a hit and run incident in greater manchester. it happened last night in 0ldham. a second girl, who's eleven, is in a critical condition in hospital. police want to trace the driver of a black volkswagen golf. the queen will decide later whether she feels well enough to attend a new year's day church service at sandringham, after being ill over christmas with a heavy cold.

she missed the christmas day service for the first time in many years. buckingham palace said the queen was still recovering and would make a decision on whether she attends later this morning. the headlines. at least 39 people have been killed after a gunman opened fire in a packed nightclub in istanbul. turkish authorities are still searching for the gunman. across the uk there were tightened security as thousands of extra police as revellers welcome in the new year. theresa may has news turn new year. theresa may has news turn new year. theresa may has news turn new year message to call a 2017 to be year of unity following the vote to leave the eu. now, the new year's day weekend is full of sport. let's get a full round—up. you are right, it is busy and

chelsea have finished the year six points clear at the top of the premier league. they beat stoke a—2 and they have matched arsenal's record set 1a years ago of 13 wins ina row record set 1a years ago of 13 wins in a row in record set 1a years ago of 13 wins ina rowina record set 1a years ago of 13 wins in a row in a single season. it was a goalfrom the iliad. —— willian. antonio conte needs new no new year's champagne. this is the intoxicating effect of 13 straight premier league wins. mixed with no little adrenaline. chelsea had to work for their record. stoke had pegged them back once, before willian made it 2—1. there was then a manic minute. first, 35 year old peter crouch, of pensionable age in the premier league, scored his first premier league goal since may 2015, a goal that hadn't been fully digested when chelsea provided the next course 75 seconds later. willian again, costa made it four. chelsea level arsenal's premier league record. who can stop them? liverpool are nearest right now. what was reckoned to be a feast of attacking football against manchester city produced a one goal, this was it, scored by georginio wijnaldum.

it gavejurgen klopp victory over his old acquaintance pep guardiola. manchester united may not have given up on the chase although middlesbrough were some hurdle. rod leadbetter gave them the lead at old trafford. none of the complicated stuff would work so united went simple, long ball, header, anthony martial. still five minutes left. united only needed one before juan mata picked out paul pogba. a united turnaround, a fitting way to mark alex ferguson's 75th birthday. a few miles north but a world away our burnley, quietly astonishing in their first season back in the premier league. andre gray's hat—trick helped seal off struggling sunderland. who needs champagne when you have this? elsewhere, the champions leicester beat west ham, west brom won at southampton. hal robson—kanu scoring the winner on his first premier league start in over three—and—a—half years, and swansea lost again, 3—0 at home to bournemouth.

swansea are still bottom of the table — and in a bid to improve their predicament, they're set to appoint former derby boss paul clement as their new manager, he'd be their third this season. he's likely to be at their match against crystal palace on tuesday. wins for both arsenal and tottenham today would push manchester city out of the top four. tottenham are at watford in the 1.30 kick off, while arsenal host crystal palace at a. iam sure i am sure in the second part of the season, when everybody is ready to go for it, it is not any more weight and seek it is go and take now. i am confident that in the second part of the season you will see spectacular games. but we have not completely produced. celtic start the year with a 19 point lead in the scottish premier

ship, after coming from behind to beat rangers 2—1 in the old firm derby. scott sinclair with the winner. hammett william boyce scored twice as ross cou nty william boyce scored twice as ross county beat inverness. —— liam boyce. a remarkable comeback in by boyce. a remarkable comeback in rugby union's premier ship, exeter we re rugby union's premier ship, exeter were losing 11 now at half—time at day then scored 17 unanswered points. james short two late tries. munster are five points clear of the pro 12 after beating con upped. —— connacht. there were wins for glasgow and edinburgh. manu tuilagi has been included in the training squad for england next week. he has

only appeared once sincejune 201a after struggling with injury. eddie jones names his six nations squad on the 20th. andy murray has won his first match since being knighted, he beat milos raonic in straight sets. he is preparing for the first grand slam of the year, how does it feel to be called sir? it is so strange, obviously, big honour, great recognition for my results over the last few years. it was a very nice way to finish 2016 or start 2017. i am more than happyjust being known as andy, that is fine by me. rafael finished on a high, beating david

coffin in straight sets. that is all the sport for now. some breaking news out of turkey. a further political response to that awful attack on the nightclub this morning. the president of turkey, barack president erdogan, has said that they are working to destroy our nations morale and targeting civilians with these heinous attacks. this was a statement that president erdogan made on the presidency website, we can expect more from turkey later. reports from

indonesia say 23 people have been killed after a ferry caught fire near the capital jakarta. the fire was caused by a short—circuit on a power generator. the united nations security council has unanimously welcomed efforts by russia and turkey to stop the fighting in syria and says it supports the start of a political process. peace negotiations between the syrian government and opposition are due to begin in late january in kazakhstan. bill hayton reports. total support for the latest attempt at peace. after nearly six years of fighting, is this finally a route out of war? the latest agreement is backed by some of the key players. but doubt stopped the us and other countries giving it wholehearted endorsement. instead, they welcomed it. we have voted in favour of this resolution because it strikes the right balance. cautious optimism and support. predicated on hope. but tempered by a realistic need to wait to see how this arrangement

is implemented before casting the full weight of the security council behind it. many details of the agreement remain secret, but the russian government, which brokered it along with turkey, says other countries shouldn't obstruct the process. translation: i don't want to criticise, i would like in the most delicate way to just hint to colleagues, it's a very complicated process, everything we have been able to achieve is the result of enormous work, so please, let's keep things clear. please help us. if you don't want to help, just make sure that you don't complicate things. in syria, many questions remain. will aid get through to everyone? how will breaches of the truce be handled? what will happen to groups that haven't signed the deal? and the biggest of all, will president assad remain in power? the rebel grouping with support from most arab states, the european union and the us still says he has to go. with all the war crimes that he has committed,

he and his gangs around him, you cannot expect someone like him to go on ruling in syria. if he doesn't go, it means there will be no peace in syria. it's the third truce in less than a year but for the time being, it appears to be holding. but peace is more than the absence of war. the current coin will cease to be legal tender come 0ctober. a new 12—sided £1 coin will enter circulation in march. the current coin will cease to be legal tender come 0ctober. the royal mint says that after 30 years, the coin needs changing to protect it from counterfeiters. new designs have been unveiled for the £2 coin and the 50 pence piece. hull has started its year as the uk city of culture. £32 million has been spent on a year—long programme. at this afternoon's opening event, eight city—centre buildings will be turned into giant screens which will be used to retell the city's history. here's our arts correspondent,

colin paterson. after three years of planning and preparation, the waiting is over. hull is the uk's city of culture. one of its most famous residents can hardly contain himself. it's lifted up the spirits of people. you can rebuild and regenerate and build the confidence of the people by culture, and the city of culture is what is now happening to hull. £32 million is being spent on a year—long programme of events which includes hosting the turner prize. what are you hoping the city of culture will achieve for hull? i want nationally and internationally people to see that this is a fantastic city with great stories, great people, and a lot to offer. because every city deserves its moment in the limelight. and 2017 is ours. it all starts at apm this afternoon, when buildings will be used as giant screens to retell hull's history. with one turning hollywood into hullywood.

people here have recreated famous movie scenes. what are you really looking forward to about the year? the 1st of january, looking at the fireworks, i don't even have to move out of my room if i don't want to. i can stay and look at my living room window. it's amazing. it's not just about looking through the window but putting hull in the shop window. the aim, 1 million extra visitors in 2017. a quick update on the queen's medical condition, she was expected or it was hoped that she would attend the new year's day church service at sandringham where she is recovering from a cold, but the queen will not attend the new year's day church service at sandringham, buckingham palace saying, because

the heavy cold is, in their words, lingering. manchester united's late win against middlesbrough at old trafford yesterday was so exciting, it prompted 0lympic sprinter usain bolt to call the club's post—match phone—in. 0ur our next call is injamaica, we are speaking to usain bolt, is it usain bolt? is he there? it is usain bolt. it is the same one. what would you like to say? they came through... bolt went on to say that the win was like watching the man united "of old". but presenter, mandy henry, admitted afterwards she didn't think the caller was genuine until bolt confirmed it on his twitter account. butland at what the weather is doing i'iow. a cold and bracing start for some of

you, a wet and soggy one for others, particularly across the midlands, east anglia and southern england, our bricks of rain, cold air, sleet over higher ground. wintry showers further north. a good deal of sunshine at times. here the northerly wind making itself known. the colder air makes it to the south as the rain clears to the south coast. some showers into eastern england, coming with an icy risks, and temperatures down to minus four. a cold starts to monday, a bank holiday for many of you, a lovely day, get your new year's day walk tomorrow. showers will fade away, and into the afternoon it will be a chilly day, especially in the breeze. hello.

this is bbc news with gavin esler. the headlines at 9.30. a gunman has attacked a packed nightclub in the turkish city of istanbul — killing at least 39 people. the turkish president said such attacks were designed to destabilise the people. there was one gunman, not multiple gunmen. he was wearing a coat and trousers. he went inside as he opened fire and we were told he was wearing different clothes inside and he tried to get out. the london ambulance service says there were technical difficulties in its control room in the early hours of the morning, meaning staff had to log calls by pen and paper. theresa may has called for unity in her new year message to the country — and said last year's eu