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Turkish man detained after firing shots into air to protest pope visit
The Associated Press
Police on Thursday detained a man who fired shots into the air outside the Italian consulate allegedly to protest an upcoming visit by Pope Benedict XVI.
The private Dogan news agency said the protester had tossed his gun into the garden of the Istanbul residence of the consul general, which is in the same compound as the consulate building, after allegedly firing the shots.
The protester shouted, "I am happy to be a Muslim" as he was detained, according to Dogan.
An Italian diplomat in Ankara confirmed the incident and said it appeared to be directed at the Italian diplomatic mission, but added it was not sure whether the shooting was in protest at the papal visit.
Police detained the suspect and took him to a nearby police station in the crowded Beyoglu district for interrogation.
Benedict is scheduled to visit Turkey between Nov. 28 and Dec. 1.
It would be Benedict's first visit as pope to a predominantly Muslim country, just two months after he provoked widespread anger by quoting an emperor who characterized the Prophet Muhammad's teachings as "evil and inhuman."
The pope has since expressed regret for offending Muslims and called for dialogue with Islam.
Radical Islamic groups who strongly opposed the pope's visit had called on the Islamic-rooted government to cancel the trip.
The government did not bow to the public pressure, but Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will not be in the country when the pope arrives. Erdogan is scheduled to attend a NATO summit scheduled for Nov. 28-29 in Riga, Latvia, and had not been scheduled to meet the pope.
Turkish authorities were planning to dramatically increase security during Benedict's visit, but Thursday's incident is also likely to prompt authorities to improve the security around Italian diplomatic missions and interests in the country soon.
The Associated Press
Police on Thursday detained a man who fired shots into the air outside the Italian consulate allegedly to protest an upcoming visit by Pope Benedict XVI.
The private Dogan news agency said the protester had tossed his gun into the garden of the Istanbul residence of the consul general, which is in the same compound as the consulate building, after allegedly firing the shots.
The protester shouted, "I am happy to be a Muslim" as he was detained, according to Dogan.
An Italian diplomat in Ankara confirmed the incident and said it appeared to be directed at the Italian diplomatic mission, but added it was not sure whether the shooting was in protest at the papal visit.
Police detained the suspect and took him to a nearby police station in the crowded Beyoglu district for interrogation.
Benedict is scheduled to visit Turkey between Nov. 28 and Dec. 1.
It would be Benedict's first visit as pope to a predominantly Muslim country, just two months after he provoked widespread anger by quoting an emperor who characterized the Prophet Muhammad's teachings as "evil and inhuman."
The pope has since expressed regret for offending Muslims and called for dialogue with Islam.
Radical Islamic groups who strongly opposed the pope's visit had called on the Islamic-rooted government to cancel the trip.
The government did not bow to the public pressure, but Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will not be in the country when the pope arrives. Erdogan is scheduled to attend a NATO summit scheduled for Nov. 28-29 in Riga, Latvia, and had not been scheduled to meet the pope.
Turkish authorities were planning to dramatically increase security during Benedict's visit, but Thursday's incident is also likely to prompt authorities to improve the security around Italian diplomatic missions and interests in the country soon.