Post by Webster on Jan 28, 2024 20:40:57 GMT -5
(The Guardian) Gunmen captured after deadly attack on Catholic church in Istanbul
Two gunmen who opened fired inside a Catholic church in Istanbul, killing one person, have been detained, AFP reports. The news agency writes: The shooting, condemned by Pope Francis and Turkish officials, was claimed by the so-called Islamic State group in a statement issued on its Telegram channels.
Two masked men carried out the attack at around 11.40 am (0840 GMT) at the Santa Maria church in the Sariyer district, on the European side of Turkey’s largest city, interior minister Ali Yerlikaya said on social media.
Turkish officials said it looked like a targeted attack against one person rather than against the Catholic church. The minister said an individual initially identified only as CT was the target of the gun attack and had lost his life. He was among those attending Sunday’s service.
Turkish police detained the two suspects as they fled the scene, Yerlikaya announced late on Sunday, identifying the victim as Tuncer Cihan. Istanbul governor Davut Gul said there had been no other injuries.
Local officials said around 40 people attended the mass including Poland’s consul general in Istanbul Witold Lesniak and his family. They also suggested that, but for a weapons malfunction, there might have been more casualties.
Two gunmen who opened fired inside a Catholic church in Istanbul, killing one person, have been detained, AFP reports. The news agency writes: The shooting, condemned by Pope Francis and Turkish officials, was claimed by the so-called Islamic State group in a statement issued on its Telegram channels.
Two masked men carried out the attack at around 11.40 am (0840 GMT) at the Santa Maria church in the Sariyer district, on the European side of Turkey’s largest city, interior minister Ali Yerlikaya said on social media.
Turkish officials said it looked like a targeted attack against one person rather than against the Catholic church. The minister said an individual initially identified only as CT was the target of the gun attack and had lost his life. He was among those attending Sunday’s service.
Turkish police detained the two suspects as they fled the scene, Yerlikaya announced late on Sunday, identifying the victim as Tuncer Cihan. Istanbul governor Davut Gul said there had been no other injuries.
Local officials said around 40 people attended the mass including Poland’s consul general in Istanbul Witold Lesniak and his family. They also suggested that, but for a weapons malfunction, there might have been more casualties.