The mayor of Sarıyer, Şükrü Genç, said that there were between 35 and 40 people inside the church at the time, and that the attackers left the scene after their weapons jammed, having fired two rounds.

[4] The fatality was later identified as a 52-year-old man by the name of Tuncer Cihan, who was described by his nephew as "a mentally disabled individual who had no connection to politics or organizations" and that he had visited the church because someone had invited him there, before he became a "victim of fate.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan phoned consul Lesniak and the priest of the church, Reverend Anton Bulai, and gave his condolences, and stated that "necessary steps are being taken to catch the perpetrators as soon as possible.

"[10][2] Interior minister Ali Yerlikaya said that "we will never tolerate those who try to disrupt the peace of our country — terrorists, their collaborators, both national and international criminal groups, and those who aim at our unity and solidarity.

"[8] Pope Francis expressed his "closeness to the community of the Santa Maria Draperis Church in Istanbul" at the end of his weekly Angelus prayer in Saint Peter's Square in Vatican City.