Attack on Italian church in Istanbul, one dead

Europe 1 with AFP 12:05 p.m., January 28, 2024, modified at 12:09 p.m., January 28, 2024

Two masked assailants attacked an Italian church in Istanbul in the middle of a religious ceremony on Sunday, leaving one dead, announced Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. The attack occurred around 11:40 a.m. local time (08:40 GMT) in the Sariyer district of Istanbul, the Interior Minister announced on social networks. An investigation has been opened, he added.

According to the minister, a person who attended the celebration, simply identified by his initials CT, was killed. “We strongly condemn this despicable attack,” added Ali Yerlikaya. The attackers targeted this person in the middle of mass, denounced Omer Celik, the spokesperson for the ruling AKP party (Party for Justice and Development). “Our security forces are carrying out a full-scale investigation into this matter,” he said. “Those who threaten the peace and security of our citizens will never achieve their goals.”

Alleged members of the Islamic State jihadist group suspected in recent months

The motive for this attack was not immediately known. In December, Turkish security forces arrested 32 suspects, alleged members of the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group, suspected of planning attacks against synagogues, churches and the Iraqi embassy. The arrests were made in nine different cities, including Istanbul and the capital Ankara.

Turkey has in recent months intensified operations against members of IS, which has claimed responsibility for a number of deadly attacks in Turkey, including one on January 1, 2017 in an Istanbul nightclub, which left 39 dead.