Deadly Jihad Attack on Catholic Church in Turkey: Islamic State Claims Responsibility (Video)

ISTANBUL, Jan 28 – Turkish authorities have successfully apprehended two Muslims believed to be associated with the Islamic State (ISIS) following a tragic jihad attack at a church in Istanbul. On Sunday, during a church service at the Italian Santa Maria Catholic Church in Istanbul’s Sariyer district, two Muslim gunmen opened fire, resulting in the death of one Turkish disabled man. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed the capture of the suspects and the ongoing investigations into the incident.

The Jihad Attack

In a shocking act of violence, a pair of armed Muslim men forcefully entered the Santa Maria Catholic Church in Istanbul on a Sunday morning, unleashing a hail of bullets during a weekly Mass service. The attack, which occurred at 11:40 a.m., sent shockwaves through the congregation and left one churchgoer dead before the assailants made their swift escape, according to Turkish officials.

The horrifying jihad attack, captured in a viral social media video, depicted the masked Muslim terrorists entering the Christian sacred place of worship just moments before they began indiscriminately firing rounds. Amid the chaos, the faithful in attendance reacted instinctively, seeking safety by dropping to the floor while the two assailants made a hasty exit from the scene.

Tragically, the gunmen claimed the life of an innocent man named Tuncer Cihan during their Islamic attack. Speaking about the victim, Cihan’s nephew, Cagin Cihan, described him as a mentally disabled individual with no affiliations to political or criminal organizations. Tuncer Cihan had attended the church service on an invitation and became an unfortunate victim of this Islamic terrorist attack.

Interior Minister Yerlikaya condemned the attack and pledged to bring the Muslim perpetrators to justice. In response to the incident, Turkish authorities launched a series of raids on over 30 locations across Istanbul, resulting in the detention of 47 individuals. The two Muslim suspects were captured during one of the final raids, according to Yerlikaya.

The Perpetrators

Both Muslim suspects are foreign nationals, with one hailing from Tajikistan and the other from Russia. Turkish authorities have assessed that they have ties to the Islamic State (ISIS).

ISIS Claims Responsibility

Shortly after the attack, ISIS claimed responsibility for the terrorist act in a statement released on Telegram. In the statement, the group cited a call from its leaders to target Jews and Christians as motivation for the attack.

#Turquie l’#EI revendique l’attaque contre l’église à #Istanbul qui a eu lieu pendant la messe du dimanche « les deux assaillants ont pu se retirer […] l’attaque vient en réponse à l’appel de viser les juifs et les chrétiens partout » pic.twitter.com/dyA2l83fHq

— Wassim Nasr (@SimNasr) January 28, 2024

In an audio address, ISIS told Muslims to carry out attacks on “Jews, Christians, or their allies on the streets and roads of America, Europe, and the world.” They stated,

“Lions of Islam: Chase your prey, whether Jews, Christians, or their allies, on the streets and roads of America, Europe, and the world. Break into their homes, kill them, and steal their peace of mind by any means you can lay hands on. Understand that you are the arm of the Islamic State hitting the unbelievers’ homelands and are avenging the Muslims in Palestine, Iraq, Syria, and other Muslim countries. Solidify your plans and diversify the attacks: detonate explosives, burn them with grenades and fiery agents, shoot them with bullets, cut their throats with sharp knives, and run them over with vehicles. A sincere person will not lack the means to draw blood from the hearts of the Jews, the Christians, and their allies, and thus ease the suffering in the hearts of the believers.”

Global Reactions

In a strategic move, President Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey made a public display of outreach to the Christian community following an incident at Saint Mary Draperis Church in Istanbul. He extended his condolences to the church’s priest, a gesture widely publicized by his administration, including through a video released by his office. This act was a tactical maneuver aimed at shaping international perceptions, suggesting Erdogan’s support for the Christian community amidst broader concerns about his government’s policies towards religious minorities.

Meanwhile, Pope Francis, in his weekly Angelus prayer, expressed his sympathy for the community of Saint Mary Draperis Church, which suffered a tragic armed attack resulting in loss of life.

Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni condemned the attack and described it as a “despicable act.” Italy’s foreign ministry is closely monitoring the situation, further highlighting the international concern over this act of violence.

ISIS in Turkey

This jihad attack is not the first instance of ISIS-related violence in Turkey. In January 2017, ISIS carried out an attack on a nightclub in Istanbul, resulting in the deaths of 39 people. Interior Minister Yerlikaya revealed that since June 2023, Turkish authorities have detained 2,086 individuals suspected of having ties to ISIS through 1,046 operations. Of those detained, 529 people have been formally arrested.

The jihad attack serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by Muslim terrorist groups, emphasizing the importance of continued vigilance and international cooperation in the fight against Islamic terrorism.