Two masked assailants attacked an Italian church in Istanbul on Sunday January 28, killing one person, announced Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. “Around 11:40 a.m., during mass at Santa Maria Church in the Sariyer neighborhood [une personne, identifiée par ses initiales], CT who was attending mass was attacked at gunpoint by two masked people and unfortunately lost his life”, announced the minister on his social networks. “We strongly condemn this despicable attack”he reacted.
The motive for this attack was not immediately known. “A large-scale investigation and measures to arrest the attackers have been launched”, also announced the Minister of the Interior. The attackers targeted this person in the middle of mass, denounced Ömer Çelik, the spokesperson for the ruling AKP party (Justice and Development Party).
“Our security forces are carrying out a full-scale investigation into this matter”did he declare. “Those who threaten the peace and security of our citizens will never achieve their goals. »
In December, Turkish security forces arrested 32 suspects, alleged members of the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group, suspected of planning attacks against synagogues, churches and the Iraqi embassy. The arrests were made in nine different cities, including Istanbul and the capital Ankara.
Turkey has in recent months intensified operations against members of IS, which has claimed responsibility for a number of deadly attacks in Turkey, including one on 1er January 2017 in an Istanbul nightclub, which left 39 dead.