“We’re nervous concerning the future,” says the Vicar Apostolic of Istanbul
Islamic State has claimed accountability for Sunday's terrorist assault on a Roman Catholic church in Istanbul, Turkey, during which a mentally disabled Muslim was killed.
The terrorist group, by way of its media arm, claimed accountability for the assault on “a gathering of Christian infidels throughout their polytheistic ceremony” on the Santa Maria Church in Istanbul's Buyukdere district, The Related Press stories.
Footage obtained by Reuters exhibits the second masked gunmen opened fireplace throughout Sunday mass at a church.
Two masked gunmen shot lifeless one particular person throughout a Sunday church service in Istanbul, Inside Minister Ali Yerlikaya mentioned https://t.co/FLIXYiCV5fpic.twitter.com/gLJyPZBRkK
— Reuters (@Reuters) January 28, 2024
Police arrested two males, one Russian and one Tajik, early Monday, Turkish Inside Minister Ali Yerlikaya mentioned. The arrests adopted police raids at greater than 30 places throughout which 51 suspects have been detained, the AP reported.
“Each suspects are overseas nationals,” Yerlikaya mentioned. “One in every of them is from Tajikistan and the opposite is Russian and we now have assessed them as being with the Islamic State.”
Yerlikaya additionally mentioned on Sunday va contribution to X that he and the Turkish authorities “strongly condemn this heinous assault”.
Tuncer Cihan, 52, who was shot and killed in the course of the assault, was “an individual who did nothing improper,” based on church lawyer Avsin Hatipoglu, who spoke to the AP. In response to him, the church is allegedly demanding elevated safety within the space.
The lawyer added that Cihan was not even a Christian, however an Alevite, a sect of Shiite Islam. Cihan's nephew recognized him and famous that he was mentally disabled, based on The New York Publish. Yerlikaya additionally confirmed the identification of the sufferer.
Sukru Genc, the mayor of Sariyer district, informed native information shops that Cihan was standing close to the doorway to the church when the assault occurred, based on CNN.
“In response to the priest, he went to church on a regular basis and the priest knew this particular person and known as him a 'good particular person,'” Genc mentioned.
“Such provocations won’t ever be allowed in our nation,” wrote Akif Cagatay Kilic, one in every of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's high political advisers. statement published on X Sunday. “The perpetrators might be caught and delivered to justice as quickly as doable.”
Bishop Massimiliano Palinuro, who serves because the vicar apostolic of Istanbul, informed EWTN Information that Cihan was murdered “in the course of the ordination whereas the entire congregation was praying.”
“We’re involved concerning the future as a result of if this can be a signal of non secular intolerance for our group, it could possibly be a nasty signal. Let's pray,” Palinuro mentioned.
Responding to information of the arrest, Palinuro mentioned, “We consider within the justice of God.”
Turkey's bishops' convention condemned the assault in an announcement on Sunday, urging individuals to wish and keep away from “[spreading] a tradition of hatred and spiritual discrimination,” stories the Catholic Press Company.
“We strongly condemn this act of violence towards humanity,” mentioned an announcement signed by Archbishop Martin Kmetec of Izmir.
“We belief that the Turkish state safety forces will discover these accountable and that justice might be served,” he mentioned. “We strongly demand that the reality be revealed and that our communities and church buildings be assured larger safety.”
Pope Francis wrote to X: “I specific my closeness to the group of the Church of St. Mary Draperis in Istanbul, which suffered an armed assault throughout Mass that killed one particular person and injured a number of others.”
I specific my closeness to the group of the church of St. Mary Draperis in Istanbul, who suffered an armed assault throughout mass that killed one particular person and injured a number of others.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) January 28, 2024
In response to the US State Division, there are roughly 25,000 Roman Catholics dwelling in Turkey as of 2022.
Yerlikaya claimed that Turkey had detained 2,086 individuals with suspected hyperlinks to Islamic State and arrested 529 since final June, based on Reuters.
In response to Turkey's Anadolu Company, 25 individuals suspected of ties to the Islamic State have been arrested in Turkey on January 3 over allegations that they have been planning to assault church buildings and synagogues.
Jon Brown is a reporter for The Christian Publish. Ship information tricks to jon.brown@christianpost.com
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