Turkish safety forces have apprehended suspects in a taking pictures at a Catholic church in Istanbul that left one individual useless, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya mentioned Sunday.
“Two murder suspects who caused the death of our citizen Tuncer Cihan during Sunday mass at Sarıyer Santa Maria Church have been caught,” Yerlikaya advised reporters.
“I congratulate our Istanbul police and heroic law enforcement officials who recognized and caught the perpetrators. I as soon as once more specific my condolences to the household and kinfolk of our citizen who misplaced his life.
“Both suspects are of foreign nationality. We assess that the suspects — one Tajikistani and the other Russian — are affiliated with the Daesh/ISIS terror group,” he added.
Throughout the day, Turkish safety forces performed raids on 30 addresses, ensuing within the apprehension of 47 suspects to date, Yerlikaya advised reporters.
Two gunmen opened hearth on worshippers Sunday on the church in Istanbul’s Sarıyer district, killing one, officers mentioned earlier.
Condemning the “heinous attack,” Istanbul Governor Davut Gül advised reporters that the sufferer of the assault was 52 years previous and that nobody was injured.
Yerlikaya earlier mentioned the incident passed off at 11.40 a.m. native time (0840GMT), throughout morning mass at Sarıyer Santa Maria Church in Istanbul’s Buyukdere neighborhood.
“A large-scale investigation” is underway to catch the suspects, Yerlikaya mentioned on X, including: “We strongly condemn this heinous attack.”
The motive for the assault is unknown.
Yerlikaya advised reporters that police have been working arduous to unravel the crime.
Noting that there are numerous locations of worship in Istanbul and that worship is carried out freely at every of them in a peaceable and secure atmosphere, he mentioned all of Türkiye’s religion communities recognize this safe atmosphere.
“Those who try to disrupt the unity and solidarity of our nation will never succeed. I want to especially underline this,” he mentioned.
“Those who threaten the peace and safety of our citizens will never achieve their goals,” Türkiye’s Justice and Development (AK) Party spokesperson Ömer Çelik additionally mentioned in a quick assertion on X.
TURKISH PRESIDENT PLEDGES ACTION IN WAKE OF ATTACK
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan additionally conveyed his condolences and get-well needs to the congregation over the assault, including that crucial steps are being taken to apprehend the perpetrators as quickly as potential.
On X, Communications Director Fahrettin Altun mentioned Erdoğan spoke by telephone with Father Anton Bulai, who serves on the church, in addition to with Sarıyer District Governor Ömer Kalaylı and Witold Lesniak, Poland’s consul common in Istanbul, who was reportedly on the church across the time of the assault.
“Our esteemed President, who conveyed condolences and get-well wishes to the entire congregation, said that necessary steps are being taken to apprehend the perpetrators as soon as possible,” Altun mentioned.
Altun additionally shared video of the calls, with Erdoğan conveying his sympathies to Father Bulai, saying: “Our law enforcement is currently mobilized with all its capabilities. I believe that the perpetrator will be apprehended shortly.”
Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş known as the assault “despicable” and in addition supplied condolences to the sufferer’s household.
Ali Erbaş, the top of Türkiye’s Religious Affairs Directorate, denounced the “heinous attack” and prolonged his condolences to the sufferer’s household.
Erbaş visited the church and advised reporters: “I would like to stress that differences are our richness. Places of worship, especially during worship, have complete inviolability. According to our belief, mosques, churches and synagogues are inviolable, regardless of which faith they are a place of worship for.”
“As a state and a nation, we will always preserve our unity and solidarity. The coexistence of people of different beliefs is a very important richness for us,” he added.
GREEK ORTHODOX PATRIARCH OFFERS CONDOLENCES
Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomeos additionally expressed his condolences to the religious chief of the Latin Catholic neighborhood, Massimiliano Palinuro, over the assault.
Bartholomeos, who relies in Istanbul, phoned Palinuro and expressed his condolences to the household of the one who misplaced his life within the armed assault on the church and to the Catholic neighborhood.
Expressing his perception that the authorities will do what is important to make clear the tragic incident, Bartholomeos mentioned social peace and the harmonious coexistence of spiritual communities is an indelible attribute of Türkiye.
Source: www.anews.com.tr