सरुको हरफ - अंग्रेजी - ISTANBUL– Police in Izmit have arrested a man who...

ISTANBUL– Police in Izmit have arrested a man who set a fire early morning of 3rd September at the entrance of Izmit Protestant church and then shot off his pistol several times. The church's pastor is the brother-in-law of murdered in Malatya in April and has been targeted by Islamic extremists.

Semih Sahin, the man who set fire to the church entrance reportedly told interrogators that he had been "bothered" by what he heard and read in the newspapers about the Izmit Protestant Church, so he wanted to "make a scene" to arouse public attention against it. According to police, who described the apprehended suspect as a "psychopath," Sahin has a previous criminal and prison record. He was brought before a local prosecutor, formally charged and jailed yesterday afternoon.