Man attempts to burn down Istanbul church, blames Christianity ‘for spread of coronavirus’

Istanbul police have detained a man for attempting to burn the entrance door of Dzınunt Surp Asdvadzadzni Armenian Orthodox Church in the Bakırköy district, daily Sözü reported on May 9.

“I burned it because they brought the coronavirus [onto Turkey],” the man was quoted as saying in his testimony to the police.

On May 8, an identified individual set the church’s door on fire. The fire was quickly extinguished and the Bakırköy police initiated an investigation into the incident.

The police found out the identity of the suspect from the security cameras and detained him. The individual known by the initials M.K. is said to suffer from mental problems.

Turkey’s Armenian Patriarchate released a statement regarding the issue, saying Istanbul’s deputy chief of police has contacted them and expressed his sadness regarding this incident. “He also said that the suspect would be apprehended in the shortest time possible,” the statement said.