One death after shooting in Istanbul church – Erdogan: “Measures must be taken”

A person has been shot dead in a church in Istanbul and the act was caught on film.

Two masked perpetrators entered and opened fire in the middle of Sunday’s service.

Now one person has been arrested after the crime.

The Italian Santa Maria church in Istanbul held a service as usual on Sunday.

But at 11.40 the gate was opened and two men in black clothes and balaclavas over their heads entered and drew weapons, several Turkish media reports. The men were caught on surveillance video outside the church on their way. Even the act inside the church is filmed when the perpetrators open fire, reports Yeni Safak and Sabah.

The visitors stood up in the church when they heard the gunshots behind them and threw themselves on the floor.

A man was shot and died of his injuries. He must have been the intended target, reports Cumhuriyet.

Vows to catch the perpetrators

“He was attacked by two masked men with guns and unfortunately he lost his life. A robust investigation has been launched to nab the culprits. We strongly condemn this heinous attack,” writes Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya on X.

According to the newspaper Sabah, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke to the priest in the church and promised that “necessary measures will be taken” to arrest the perpetrators.

Later on Sunday night, a suspect in connection with the attack was arrested by Turkish anti-terror police, according to the Turkish media company DHA.