Deadly armed attack at Santa Maria Church in Sarıyer
Gunman kills one person at a church in Istanbul
The Minister of Internal Affairs, Ali Yerlikaya, made a statement regarding an incident that occurred at the Santa Maria Church in Istanbul. He reported that around 11:40 AM two people wearing CT masks attacked and killed a person at the church with a gun. An investigation to apprehend the attackers has been initiated.
Following the incident, Omer Celik, the AK Party Deputy Chairman and Party Spokesperson, condemned the attack and stated that the security forces are conducting a large-scale investigation into the matter. CNN TÜRK Istanbul News Director, Nihat Uludağ, described the attack as a sad incident where two masked attackers entered the church with automatic weapons and killed one person.
Security forces have launched a wide-scale investigation at the scene, and many police and ambulance teams have been dispatched to the area. Police teams have closed off a large area around the church and are reviewing security camera footage to identify and apprehend the attackers.
The attack at the Santa Maria Church is the latest in a string of violent incidents targeting religious institutions across the nation. Recent attacks on mosques and Cemevis have now been followed by an attack on a church.
The armed attackers responsible for the incident are still at large, and police continue to work diligently to bring them to justice. These attacks reflect a concerning trend of violence targeting religious institutions in the country, and authorities are focused on capturing those responsible for these heinous acts.
