ISTANBUL (AP) — Two masked assailants attacked a Roman Catholic church in Istanbul during a Sunday Mass, killing one person, Turkish officials said.
The armed assailants attacked the Santa Maria Church in the Sariyer district at 11:40 a.m. (0840 GMT or 3:30 a.m. EST), Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter. He didn’t specify what kind of weapons were used or whether anyone else was wounded.
Turkish authorities haven’t formally identified the victim, but local media say the person who was killed had the initials C.T. and was 52 years old.
Yerlikaya condemned the attack and said authorities were working on capturing the assailants. An investigation was opened.
A short video circulating on social media apparently depicts the moment of the attack, with two masked men entering the church and opening fire, with all service-goers hitting the floor. The two men then abruptly leave.
Turkish authorities have instituted a media ban on coverage of the attack.
Sukru Genc, mayor of the Sariyer district where the attack took place, told the Birgun daily newspaper that the gunmen fled when their weapon jammed after having fired two rounds. Genc also noted that among the attendees was Polish Consul General Witold Lesniak and his family, who were all unharmed in the attack.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Lesniak and Santa Maria’s priest, Rev. Anton Bulai, to offer his condolences. Istanbul…
