Suspect Arrested for Removing Cross from Armenian Church in Istanbul

An individual has been arrested in relation to the attack on the Armenian St. Gregory the Illuminator Church located in the Skudari neighborhood of Istanbul. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has announced that an investigation has been launched on charges of "causing damage to places of worship," as reported by Ermenihaber.

As previously mentioned, an unknown person violently removed the cross located on the church's entrance gates and threw it onto the sidewalk on May 23. The moment of the hate-fueled attack was captured by the church's security cameras.

A complaint regarding the attack was filed with the police, and a new cross has been installed in place of the one that was removed. Using footage from the cameras, the identity of the perpetrator was established, leading to their subsequent arrest. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

It is worth noting that just weeks ago, a Turkish citizen attempted to set fire to the door of the Armenian Nativity of the Holy Virgin Church located in the Zeytinlik neighborhood of Bakırköy, Istanbul.