One person has been taken into custody in connection with the incident that occurred at the Surp Garabet Armenian Cemetery in the Bağlarbaşı neighborhood of Üsküdar, where six graves and a fountain were vandalized.
In a statement, the Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said that an investigation was launched after authorities were notified on July 8 that damage had been done at the Surp Garabed Armenian Cemetery in Üsküdar.
The statement said that, following instructions from the prosecutor’s office, police identified the suspect through their investigation. The suspect, identified by the initials M.K., was detained by police yesterday and, after giving a statement to prosecutors today, was referred to the criminal peace judgeship with a request that he be formally arrested pending trial.
What happened?
According to information sent by the Board of Trustees of the Üsküdar Surp Garabet Church Foundation to the Armenian Patriarchate, an attack took place at the Bağlarbaşı Surp Garabet Cemetery during the night between July 7 and July 8.
After climbing over the cemetery wall, an individual entered the grounds and damaged six graves and a fountain. The Foundation’s Board of Trustees reported the attack to the police, who subsequently launched an investigation.
Speaking to Agos, Rafi Kirkoryan, president of the Üsküdar Surp Garabet Church Foundation, said that the basin beneath the fountain had been broken, along with the cross motifs carved into six gravestones.
