A pair of armed men busted into a Roman Catholic Church in Istanbul on Sunday morning and opened fire, killing one churchgoer before fleeing, Turkish officials said.
The 11:40 a.m. assault on the Santa Maria Church — which happened in the midst of a weekly Mass — was captured in a viral social media video that showed the masked men entering the building just before they began spraying bullets.
The faithful immediately hit the floor, and the two men abruptly took off.
The brazen gunmen killed one man — Tuncer Cihan — during their attack, according to Cihan’s nephew, Cagin Cihan.
“He was a mentally disabled individual who had no connection to politics or (criminal) organizations,” the nephew said. “He went there on an invitation and was a victim of fate.”
It’s not clear if anyone else was wounded.
“I express my closeness to the community of (the church) in Istanbul, which during the Mass suffered an armed attack with one dead and some wounded,” the pontiff said. via REUTERS
A Turkish man was killed when gunmen attacked a Catholic church. Afp/AFP via Getty ImagesInterior Minister Ali Yerlikaya condemned the attack in a post on X, and said authorities were working to track down the mystery killers.
The city’s mayor, Ekrem Imamoğlu, offered his condolences and support for the religious minorities who inhabit the city — which is mostly Muslim, like the rest of the country.
“There are no minorities in this city or this country,” he told reporters. “We are all actual citizens.”
Pope Francis also commented on the attack during public remarks at the Vatican on Sunday.
“I express my closeness to the community of (the church) in Istanbul, which during the Mass suffered an armed attack with one dead and some wounded,” the pontiff said.
The armed assailants attacked the Santa Maria Church in the Sariyer district at 11:40 a.m. APItalian officials are also tracking the situation, as the church is run by an Italian order of Franciscan friars.
“I express my condolence and firm condemnation for the vile attack on Santa Maria Church, ″ Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani wrote on X.
“I am certain that the Turkish authorities will arrest those responsible.”
With Post wires






