One dead in attack on Catholic church in Istanbul

The two attacked a participant in the church service with a weapon on Sunday, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on the X platform (formerly Twitter). The person – apparently a Turkish citizen – died. The background to the crime is therefore being investigated. A search is underway for the fleeing perpetrators.

In images from the DHA news agency, which are said to have come from a surveillance camera in front of the church, two people dressed in black and wearing masks could be seen slowly approaching the church. Images of police and rescue cars were later shown. The victim is said to be a homeless Turkish national, Italian media reported on Sunday. Initial reports said two gunmen entered the church during mass and shot into the air. When the man stood up to protest, they shot him.

“We condemn this heinous attack in the strongest possible terms,” wrote the Interior Minister on the short message service X (formerly Twitter). A large-scale investigation has been initiated – as have efforts to catch the attackers.

The affected Catholic Church of Santa Maria is located in the Sariyer district of Istanbul. Pope Francis expressed his solidarity during Sunday prayers in St. Peter’s Square in Rome. At midday prayers in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, he said: “I am close to the congregation of the Church of Santa Maria in Sariyer in Istanbul, which experienced an armed attack during Sunday mass in which one person was killed and several were injured.”

Turkey is more than 99 percent Muslim. According to the state news agency Anadolu Ajansi, more than 180,000 Christians still live in the country.

info By clicking on the icon you can add the keyword to your topics.

info
By clicking on the icon you open your “my topics” page. They have of 15 keywords saved and would have to remove keywords.

info By clicking on the icon you can remove the keyword from your topics.

Add the topic to your topics.