Erdogan Protesters Storm Catholic Church in Trebizond

TRABZON. Protesters have attacked Christian places of worship in loyalty rallies for Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey. In Trebizond, participants stormed the Catholic Church of Our Lady and chanted  "Allahu ekber" ( "Allah is Greater"), reports the Catholic News Agency (KNA).

In addition, demonstrators are said to have flown flags of the rightist MHP party alongside Turkish ones. According to KNA, sympathizers of the "Grey Wolves" participated in the storming. After the failed coup attempt an evangelical church was also devastated. These and other reports of anti-Christian riots, however,  due to the media blackout can not be verified.

The Church in Trebizond last appeared  in the headlines in 2006  when the priest Andrea Santoro was shot dead by a Muslim. The 16 year old student had shot  the clergyman from behind and called "Allahu akbar". Later it became known that the priest had been bugged for months by police. In 2011 the Church had been attacked by a mob. (Ls)