Suspected gunman in Istanbul church shooting detained
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Two masked gunmen opened fire during Sunday mass at the Italian Catholic Church of St. Mary, resulting in the death of one person identified by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya as C.T.
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Turkish police officers stand guard in a cordoned-off area outside the Santa Maria church, in Istanbul, Turkey on January 28, 2024 (AP)
A suspected gunman was apprehended in Turkey on Sunday after a lethal shooting at a Catholic church in Istanbul, according to media reports.
Two masked gunmen opened fire during Sunday mass at the Italian Catholic Church of St. Mary, resulting in the death of one person identified by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya as C.T.
The Milliyet newspaper reported that one of the alleged shooters was detained by counterterrorist units.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan extended condolences for the deadly attack and pledged to bring those responsible to justice, while Pope Francis expressed his sympathy and solidarity with the Catholic community in Istanbul.
ISTANBUL
— Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) January 28, 2024
The moment when terrorists stormed a Catholic Church during Mass, shooting parishioners and killing at least one person pic.twitter.com/hCckX8Rj7m
ISIS reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack.
The #IslamicState has claimed responsibility for the shooting attack in #Istanbul, #Turkey https://t.co/i7pnxfs6ne pic.twitter.com/O8PIGSWgZE
— Lucas Webber (@LucasADWebber) January 28, 2024
In 2022, a massive explosion in the heart of Taksim square claimed the lives of six people.
Turkey arrested 46 suspects linked to the bombing attack, including the bomber, with the Turkish Ministry of Interior accusing the PKK of being behind the bombing.
![In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had "engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)](https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/12/21/b4a69f2e-8682-43e4-9d37-49482b304ab3/3.png?v=2&format=webp "In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had \"engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)")
