An arson attempt occurred Monday night at the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople when, after the conclusion of a prayer service, an unidentified man wearing a red hat and shorts went behind the lectern and set fire to papers and other flammable materials.

The offender was spotted by the church’s security cameras and arrested, and was found to have a history of mental health issues, having also been treated in a psychiatric hospital.

Moreover, according to the Fatih District Police Department, the perpetrator, named Mezut Gutslu, was arrested on July 13, 2025 on charges of “destroying places of worship and cemeteries.”