Editorial
A man was brutally killed by two attackers during Sunday mass in the Catholic church of Santa Maria, in the province of Istanbul, better known as Büyükdere, in front of around forty terrified faithful. The murder sparked panic and a major police operation to search for those responsible. A few hours ago, ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack on Telegram.A few hours ago, ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack on Telegram.
Turkish police then announced the arrest of two individuals suspected of being involved in the attack, both foreigners, one a citizen of Tajikistan and the other Russian. Turkish security forces conducted a series of targeted raids, arresting a total of 47 people on suspicion of involvement in the attack.
The Turkish Interior Minister, Or Yerlikaya, provided a first reconstruction of the events, revealing that two masked men interrupted the mass, shooting into the air before killing a man identified only by the initials CT, a homeless man who attended the church. The man stood up from the church pews screaming at the attackers who killed him by shooting at him.
Monsignor Massimiliano Palinuro, apostolic vicar of Istanbul, said the victim had some mental health problems but showed courage in facing the attackers. The death toll would have been different.
In December last year, Turkish police forces arrested 32 suspects for alleged links to the so-called jihadists of the Islamic State who were preparing attacks against places of worship as well as the Iraqi embassy.
Pope francesco, during the Angelus, he expressed his "closeness" to the church community. Giorgia Meloni announced that “the Italian government, through the Farnesina, is following updates on what happened"expressing"deep condolences and the strongest condemnation for the ignoble act".
The Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani on X he expressed “condolences and firm condemnation for the cowardly attack in the church of Santa Maria in Istanbul". “The Farnesina, the minister specified,”follows the situation with the Embassy in Ankara and the consulate in Istanbul, saying he is “I am certain that the Turkish authorities will arrest those responsible".
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