Man dead after armed assault on Catholic church in Istanbul

A man died after armed assailants opened fire in an Italian church in Istanbul during Sunday mass in an apparent assassination attempt that was swiftly condemned by Pope Francis.

The attack occurred at around 11:40 (0840 GMT) at the Santa Maria church in the Sariyer district of Istanbul on the European side and was carried out by two masked men, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on social media.

Turkish officials said the attack looked like a targeted attack against one person rather than against the Catholic church.

The minister said an individual identified only as C.T. -- who was among those attending Sunday's service -- was the target of the gun attack and lost his life. 

Local officials said around 40 people attended the mass. An investigation had been launched to find the attackers, Yerlikaya added, who fled the scene after the shooting. "We strongly condemn this vile attack," Yerlikaya said.

Security footage ahead of the attack showed a pair of men wearing black snow masks with their hands in their pockets and one was seen wearing black sunglasses. 

Pope Francis expressed his support for the Catholic church after the attack.

"I express my closeness to the community of the Santa Maria" church in Istanbul, the Argentinian pope said at the end of his weekly Angelus prayer in St Peter's Square at the Vatican.

MG