Stabbing Incident at Al-Fateh Mosque: Imam and Assistant Targeted in Istanbul Attack
Watan-Imam of Al-Fateh Mosque in Istanbul, ‘Qarah Hafiz Ghaleb Asta,’ and his assistant were stabbed with a knife this evening, Monday, as authorities announced the arrest of the suspect.
لحظة إلقاء القبض على المهاجم الذي طعن إمام وطالبه في مسجد الفاتح يإسطنبولpic.twitter.com/7n67Wl2fLf
— Owis Akkad أويس عقاد (@akkadowis) January 8, 2024
According to the information obtained, the suspect A.S, who caused disruptions during the prayer at Al-Fateh Mosque, was expelled from the mosque by private security guards before returning to stab the Imam.
عاجل: حادثة طعن بيتعرض لها إمام جامع الفاتح في اسطنبول علي يد شخص لم تكشف هويته pic.twitter.com/p6aSke07Cx
— شؤون تركية (@TurkeyAffairs) January 8, 2024
Halktv reported that the mosque’s Imam, ‘Ghaleb Asta,’ entered his room after the prayer, and the suspect followed him, claiming he wanted to talk. However, he proceeded to stab him and injured ‘Bilal Ardem,’ one of the Imam’s assistants, with a knife when he attempted to prevent him from entering. The assailant then stabbed ‘Qarah Ghaleb Asta.’
Immediately, authorities and ambulance teams were notified, and the wounded were transported to the hospital by paramedics who arrived at the scene. It is reported that Asta and Ardem are in good health. Meanwhile, the suspect was arrested, and a video circulated showing the moment of his apprehension.
SON DAKİKA | İstanbul Fatih Camii imamı ve öğrencisi, camiye giren bir kişi tarafından bıçaklandı. pic.twitter.com/EQI355sAHu
— Haber (@Haber) January 8, 2024
Authorities and ambulance teams were immediately notified, and the wounded were transported to the hospital by paramedics who arrived at the scene. It is reported that Asta and Ardem are in good health. Meanwhile, the suspect was arrested, and a video circulated showing the moment of his apprehension.
Commotion Inside the Mosque
According to the source, the attacker caused commotion inside the mosque when he chanted slogans before the Isha prayer at Al-Fateh Mosque. He was removed by security, but he returned to stab the Imam.
In the investigation conducted by the police teams, it was revealed that the suspect shouted, ‘Allahu Akbar, Down with Israel. Wake up, Muslims!’ in Al-Fateh Mosque after the Isha prayer, and Imam Asta warned him about shouting in the mosque.
The suspect, who was taken out of the mosque by security guards, later entered the Imam’s room and stabbed both Ghaleb Asta and Bilal Ardem. Security guards from the adjacent room apprehended the suspect.
Fatih Camii’nde uğradıkları saldırıda yaralanan hocamız Galip Usta ve talebesi Bilal Erdem’e Allah’tan şifa diliyoruz.
Hastanede ziyaret ederek doktorlarımızdan bilgi aldık.
Tedavileri devam ediyor.Fail yakalandı ve emniyetimiz olayı çok yönlü inceliyor.
Geçmiş olsun. pic.twitter.com/xtLesAGtr1
— Davut GÜL (@gul_davut) January 8, 2024
Governor of Istanbul Comments
Governor of Istanbul, Daoud Ghoul, stated on his social media account: ‘We pray for a swift recovery from Allah for our teacher Ghaleb Asta and his student Bilal Ardem, who were injured in the attack on Al-Fateh Mosque.’
And he added, ‘We visited them in the hospital and received information from our doctors. Their treatment is ongoing. The perpetrator has been apprehended, and our police are dealing with the incident.’
The Head of Religious Affairs, ‘Ali Erbas,’ made a statement about the incident to Turkish media, saying, ‘I strongly condemn the attack on our Imam and preacher, teacher Ghaleb Asta, and Bilal Ardem, a member of the mosque community, at Al-Fateh Mosque in Istanbul. I wish them a speedy recovery from Allah Almighty.
