Two masked men attacked a Roman Catholic church in the Turkish metropolis of Istanbul, killing one person. The two attacked a church service participant with a weapon on Sunday, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on platform X (formerly Twitter).
The person – apparently a Turkish citizen – died. The background to the crime is therefore being investigated. The search is on for the fleeing perpetrators.
People with weapons stormed the fair
Images from the DHA news agency, said to have come from a surveillance camera in front of the church, showed two people dressed in black and wearing masks slowly approaching the church. Images of police and rescue cars were later shown.
The victim is said to be a homeless Turkish citizen, Italian media reported on Sunday. According to initial reports, two gunmen entered the church during mass and shot into the air. When the man stood up to protest, they shot him.
“Horrific attack”
“We condemn this heinous attack in the strongest possible terms,” the Interior Minister wrote on the short message service X (formerly Twitter). A massive investigation has been launched, as well as efforts to catch the attackers.
Pope expressed his solidarity
The affected Catholic Church of Santa Maria is located in Istanbul’s Sariyer district. Pope Francis expressed his solidarity during Sunday prayers in St. Peter’s Square in Rome.
During afternoon 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 others injured. .”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the church’s priest and local representatives of his ruling party to offer his condolences, his office said.
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.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
