ANKARA, Sept 14 (Askume) – Turkish authorities have arrested an Islamic State militant believed to have been involved in planning the attack on the Santa Maria Italiano church in Istanbul earlier this year.
The US National Intelligence Organization (MIT) said the suspect’s name is Visakhan Soltamatov and he is considered a key figure in the attack on January 28, 2024. The agency said he was detained by MIT and police in a joint operation in Istanbul.
MIT said Soltamatov was also believed to have provided the weapons used in the attack.
In January,A Turkish citizen was killed by two Islamic State gunmen at the Santa Maria Italia Catholic Church in Istanbul .
The church was attacked by militants from the Islamic State-affiliated Khorasan Province (ISKP), a group active in Afghanistan. In April, Turkey arrested 48 people believed to be linked to the attack.
