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Turkey arrests 25 suspects tied to church terror attack

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
2 Feb 2024 08:53
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Turkey's Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc says that the apprehended individuals included the two suspected gunmen.

Turkish forensic police officers hold boxes as they walk in front of Santa Maria church after a shooting, in Istanbul, Turkey, on January 28, 2024. (AFP)

Turkish security forces arrested 25 people suspected to be linked to the church terrorist shooting incident last week in Istanbul, Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said on Friday.

Two masked gunmen opened fire during Sunday mass at the Italian Catholic Church of St. Mary, resulting in the death of Turkish citizen Tuncer Cihan as identified by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.

Among the apprehended individuals are the two suspected shooters believed to be linked to the ISIS terror group, Tunc posted on X/Twitter. The detainees were reportedly planning attacks on churches, synagogues, and the Iraqi embassy.

İstanbul Sarıyer’de Santa Maria Kilisesindeki ayin sırasında, kilisede bulunan Tuncer Cihan isimli vatandaşımızın öldürülmesi olayıyla ilgili olarak İstanbul Cumhuriyet Başsavcılığınca başlatılan soruşturma kapsamında;

Aralarında kilisede ateş açarak vatandaşımızın ölümüne…
— Yılmaz TUNÇ (@yilmaztunc) February 1, 2024

According to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, the two gunmen are Tajikistani and Russian nationals.

Ordered to target religious minorities

In a Telegram statement, ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was carried out as per the group's leaders orders to target Jews and Christians.

The victim's cousin said Cihan had no political or religious affiliations and had entered the church while out for a walk.

Authorities said that the death toll would have been higher if the terrorist's weapon hadn't jammed.

ISIS has been responsible for various terrorist attacks within Turkey, including an incident at an Istanbul nightclub on January 1, 2017, resulting in the loss of 39 lives.

The church shooting comes on the heels of heightened security concerns in the region.

Since June 2023, Turkish officials have apprehended 2,086 individuals suspected of being affiliated with the group.