Istanbul church attack reveals ISIS infiltration concerns

The armed attack at Santa Maria Church in Istanbul on Janurary 28 not only claimed a life of a Turkish citizen Tuncer Murat Cihan, but also laid bare critical security vulnerabilities, sparking debates on the looming threat of ISIS infiltration in the city, as details unfolded.

Tuncer Murat Cihan, who was killed in an armed attack on Santa Maria Church, was laid to rest following a ceremony at the Alevi house of worship on January 29.

Cihan, 52, unmarried and mildly intellectually disabled, resided in Eyüpsultan Yeşilpınar with his mother. Both were originally from Bayburt. According to reports, he used to visit Santa Maria Italian Church in Sariyer with his uncle, Kazım Aydemir, who converted to Christianity. Aydemir clarified that Cihan wasn’t a Christian but frequented the church.

Attack on Sunday Mass: ISIS claimed responsibility

Cihan also attended the Sunday Mass at the Santa Maria Italian Catholic Church on the day of the attack.

According to the information obtained by CCTV footage and police sources, prior to his arrival, two individuals with black masks and sunglasses approached the church, checking if the service was ongoing. Subsequently, Cihan entered through the outer door and encountered the two individuals who would later take his life.

One of the attackers assisted Cihan in entering the church. Once inside, the assailants shot Cihan and fired indiscriminately around the church. After one of the attackers experienced a weapon malfunction, they left the church within a minute.

In addition to Father Anton Bulai, the Consul General of Poland in Istanbul, Witold Lesniak, his wife and children were also inside during the mass.

ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack. Law enforcement had previously announced an operation against ISIS in December, revealing the organization’s plans to target synagogues and churches.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said that the Polish Consul General Lesniak was not the initial target of the attack.

“The Polish Consul General regularly visits different churches in Istanbul, and this time it’s coincidental that he went to this church. At that moment, there were already about 35 people in the church,” Yerlikaya told Hande Fırat from Hürriyet newspaper.

Polish sources stated YetkinReport that Lesniak’s presence in the Church was “just a coincidence.”

A Security gap?

The Istanbul attack is also stirred a debate on a possible security gap.

According to police sources, security measures are typically in place on worship days at almost every church, either at the entrance or inside, with officers on duty.

This practice applies to Santa Maria Church as well. However, during the attack on Sunday, it is alleged that the police who should have been stationed in front of the church were reportedly 100 meters away from the scene.

Speaking to journalist İsmail Saymaz from Sözcü Newspaper, Afşin Hatipoğlu, the church’s lawyer, stated, “Normally, the police are here. There is a small room in the church’s entrance, and the police use that room on worship days. But they were not there that day. They were patrolling upstairs.”

A law enforcement official also confirmed to Saymaz that an investigation has been launched against the officers who failed to stand guard in front of the church when they should have.

“Precautions are always taken during worship times. Places of worship are a priority, and there is always a police team because they are potential targets. The team that should have been here didn’t come. It’s definite that there was a vulnerability; probably, the terrorists followed them,” the official stated.

ISIS infiltration concerns

The attackers were apprehended in Istanbul Başakşehir within 12 hours. Information has been shared that one of the alleged ISIS attackers is Russian, while the other is Tajikistani.

Additionally, 51 individuals believed to be associated with the attack were detained, with 23 people sent to a deportation center for removal. 28 individuals are still under detention.

Police also determined that the vehicle used by the suspects in the incident was brought from Poland to Türkiye a year ago. The vehicle, which had not been on the road during this period, was found to be used by the suspects on the day of the incident. It was learned that the person who brought the vehicle stayed for two days and then returned.

It is known that ISIS members along with members of other radical Islamic groups from Syria, Russia, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Balkans, and North Africa, reside in Istanbul Başakşehir.

Journalist Hale Gönültaş’s report of an indictment prepared by Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office about ISIS organization in Türkiye also reveals details of ISIS infiltration in the country.

This marks the first ISIS action in Turkey since 2017,  raising concerns about the possibility of further attacks.