Vita gazette – An armed attack took place during the Sunday service in the Italian Catholic church of Santa Maria, in the Sarıyer neighborhood of Istanbul. The victim is a Turkish citizen, attacked by two armed men.

Attack in an Italian Catholic church during mass in Istanbul, one dead. It happened in Santa Maria in the Sariyer neighborhood while Sunday mass was celebrated. An armed attack by two masked people at 11.40 am (9.40 am Italian time) took place during a Sunday service in the Italian Catholic church of Santa Maria (pictured in a Reuters archive photo) in the Sarıyer district of Istanbul. 

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said: “C.T., who was among the participants in the mass, was attacked by two masked people and unfortunately lost his life. A large-scale investigation into the incident and efforts to capture the attackers have been launched.” Numerous police teams were sent to the scene. Santa Maria Draperis (Meryem Ana Draperis in Turkish), together with the church of Saint Anthony of Padua and the church of Saints Peter and Paul, represents one of the three Roman Catholic parishes in the Beyoğlu district, one of the oldest in the Turkish capital.