MASKED gunman stormed a church in Turkey during Sunday mass this morning, killing one with a bullet to the head.
Two thugs opened fire at unsuspecting church-goers who were shot in the brutal ambush around 11.40am this morning.
Emergency services cram the streets near the church attack
Ambulance and police at the entrance to the church
Santa Maria Church in Istanbul
The horror attack took place at Santa Maria Church in capital Istanbul, Turkish officials have said.
The attackers stormed the building in ski masks, unleashing bullets as attendees threw themselves to the ground.
One man died after he was shot in the head and more were injured.
The gunmen escaped following the attack, T24 reports, and could still be at large in the city.
Turkish minister Ali Yerlikaya wrote on X/Twitter: “Today, around 11.40, during the service at the Santa Maria Church in Sarıyer Büyükdere District, he was attacked with a gun by 2 people wearing masks and unfortunately he lost his life.
“A large-scale investigation into the issue and efforts to catch the attackers have been initiated.
“We strongly condemn this vile attack.”
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu also wrote: “We will never allow those who try to destroy our unity and peace by attacking the religious places of our city”.
It is not yet clear why the gunmen opened fire at the church or whether they are associated with a particular group.
And their current location in the country’s capital is unknown.
It’s not the first shooting to take place at a religious building in Instanbul.
In 2017 a gunman opened fire inside an Istanbul mosque just hours after a horror mass shooting in a nightclub also in the city.
Two people were injured and rushed to hospital after the man opened fire with a rifle when people were gathering at north Istanbul’s Hasan Pasha Mosque for prayer.
The shooting came after a terrorist dressed as Santa gunned down New Year’s Eve revellers at the Reina nightclub in the city.
The attacker — who may have had an accomplice — shot and killed a police officer outside the venue before forcing his way inside to go on his bloody rampage.
Around 600 people had been inside the club at the time of the attack on January 1 2017.
The Islamic State later claimed responsibility for the ambush which killed 39 people and injured 79 others.
Worried onlookers crowd around the entrance of the church
Dozens of people line the street after the horror attack