Turkey detains an alleged Islamic State accomplice who planned the Istanbul church attack

The Turkish intelligence service announced on Saturday that a terrorist affiliated with the Islamic State has been taken into custody. The militant is suspected of being involved in the preparation of an attack on the Santa Maria Italian Church in Istanbul earlier this year.

The suspect, identified by the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) as Viskhan Soltamatov, was thought to be the main man behind the attack on January 28, 2024. MIT and the police apprehended him in Istanbul as part of a coordinated operation, according to the agency.

According to MIT, Soltamatov is also thought to have provided the assault rifle.

In January, two gunmen from the Islamic State assassinated one Turkish person at the Italian Santa Maria Catholic Church in Istanbul.

Operatives with ties to the Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), a component of the group that operates in Afghanistan, planned the church attack. 48 persons were detained in Turkey in April on suspicion of being connected to the attack.