Suspect held over Istanbul Armenian cemetery vandalism

PanARMENIAN.Net - The individual accused of desecrating graves at the Armenian Surp Karapet Church cemetery in Istanbul's Üsküdar district has been arrested, Ermenihaber reports.

Following the act of vandalism, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office announced that an investigation had been launched into the desecration of the graves. As a result of instructions issued to law enforcement authorities, a suspect identified by the initials M.K. was identified and arrested on July 9, 2026, less than 48 hours after the incident.

According to the statement, on July 10, 2026, the suspect was first brought before the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and was then referred to court with a request for pretrial detention. Authorities are continuing investigative measures to establish all the circumstances surrounding the incident.

It was reported earlier that during the night of July 7–8, an unidentified individual entered the grounds of the Armenian Surp Karapet Church cemetery in Istanbul's Üsküdar district and damaged six tombs and a fountain.