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Armed attack on church during service in Istanbul's Sarıyer: 1 person lost their life

It has been learned that 1 person lost their life in an armed attack carried out by 2 masked individuals at the Santa Maria Church in Istanbul's Sarıyer district around 11:00.

Müslim Sarıyar

Müslim SARIYAR-12punto.com.tr

An armed attack was carried out at the Santa Maria Church in Istanbul's Sarıyer district during Sunday mass.

Two masked individuals carried out an armed attack around 11:00 on C.T., who was attending the service. C.T. lost their life at the scene.

DETAILS OF THE INCIDENT EMERGE

According to the information obtained, while it is not yet known whether the attack was directed at the church or at C.T., who lost their life, it emerged that two masked individuals entered the church and fired into the air, and that C.T., who was praying at the time, was first wounded and then lost their life.

It was learned that the masked individuals were large-built and fled on foot, and that the district has been placed under blockade with entries and exits being monitored.

A large-scale investigation has been launched into the matter.

It is not yet known whether the attack is linked to any group.

FIRST STATEMENT FROM MINISTER YERLİKAYA

Following the attack, Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya made the following statement on his social media account:

"Today, around 11:40, during the service at the Santa Maria Church located in the Büyükdere neighborhood of Sarıyer, C.T., who was among those attending the service, was subjected to an armed attack by 2 masked individuals and unfortunately lost their life. A large-scale investigation into the matter and efforts to apprehend the attackers have been initiated. We strongly condemn this vile attack."

STATEMENT FROM ÖMER ÇELİK

AKP Deputy Chairman and Party Spokesperson Ömer Çelik also made a statement regarding the attack.

Çelik stated the following:

"We strongly condemn the armed attack on one of our citizens during the service at the Santa Maria Church in Istanbul's Sarıyer. Our security forces are conducting a large-scale investigation into the matter. Those who target the peace and security of our citizens will never achieve their goals."

DEPUTY CHIEF PUBLIC PROSECUTOR AND 2 PUBLIC PROSECUTORS ASSIGNED

Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç made statements on X regarding the church attack.

Tunç stated the following:

"I strongly condemn the armed attack carried out by two masked individuals during the service at the Santa Maria Church in Istanbul's Sarıyer. An investigation has been launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the attack in which one person lost their life, and one Deputy Chief Public Prosecutor and two Public Prosecutors have been assigned to clarify the incident. Efforts to identify and apprehend the suspects who carried out the attack are ongoing. The investigation is being conducted in a multi-faceted and meticulous manner."

FIRST IMAGES OF THE SUSPECTS EMERGE

The images of the suspects in the attack on the Santa Maria Church in Istanbul's Sarıyer have emerged!

Here are those images:

PUBLICATION BAN IMPOSED

Upon the request of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the Istanbul Criminal Court of Peace has imposed a publication ban on all visual and audio news and social media sites regarding the attack that took place at the Santa Maria Church in Istanbul's Sarıyer.