At least one person killed in armed attack on Italian church by two assailants in Istanbul

At least one person was killed in an attack on Santa Maria Church in Istanbul's Sarye district, Turkey.

ISTANBUL – Turkey's interior minister announced Sunday that two assailants attacked an Italian church during a religious ceremony in Istanbul, killing one person.

Ali Yelikaya said on social media that the attack occurred at around 11:40 a.m. (8:40 p.m. local time) at Santa Maria Church in Istanbul's Sarye district and was carried out by two masked men. Stated.

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He added that an investigation has been launched to find the assailants, who fled the scene after the shooting.

Television footage showed police and an ambulance outside the ornate church.

The minister said a person attending Sunday prayers, identified only as CT, died after the armed attack.

“We strongly condemn this dastardly attack,” Erikaya said.

“Massive investigation”

Omer Çelik, a spokesman for Turkey's ruling AKP party, said the attackers targeted civilians during Mass.

“Our security forces are conducting a major investigation into this matter,” he said.

“Those who threaten the peace and security of our people will never achieve their goals.”

Local media reported that other people were injured in the attack, but authorities did not immediately confirm this.

The motive for the attack was not immediately clear.

In December, Turkish security forces detained 32 suspects suspected of having ties to Islamic State (ISIS) jihadists who were planning attacks on churches, synagogues and the Iraqi embassy.

ISIS militants have carried out a series of attacks in Turkey, including an attack on a nightclub in Istanbul that killed 39 people in 2017.