Two “masked assailants” attacked the Santa Maria Church in the Sariyer district at around 11.40am, Turkish officials have said.
A person has died after two masked gunmen attacked a church in Istanbul during Sunday services.
Two “masked assailants” attacked the Santa Maria Church in the Sariyer district at around 11.40am, Istanbul officials have said.
They also reported that the attackers escaped, and others in the church threw themselves on the ground to protect themselves. No other injuries have been confirmed.
It is unclear what the motive behind the attack was and whether it is linked to any group.
An investigation has been opened and authorities are working to capture the pair involved, Turkey’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya has announced.
Turkey also suffered a string of deadly bombings between 2015 and 2017 by Islamic State and outlawed Kurdish groups.
SOURCE: Sky News, Sunday, January 28, 2024