Attempted arson at the Hagia Sophia mosque: after prayer, an unknown person tried to set papers on fire

Attempted arson of the famous Hagia Sophia mosque in Turkey prevented

As reported by TUT.AZ, the alarming incident occurred immediately after the evening prayer service ended.

An unknown perpetrator, taking advantage of the moment, infiltrated the historic mosque and attempted to start a fire by setting papers ablaze behind the rahle — a traditional wooden stand used for reading the holy Quran.

Thanks to the vigilance and decisive actions of the mosque's imam, the fire was promptly extinguished before the flames could spread throughout the premises.

According to preliminary information, no one present was injured as a result of the incident. The suspect was immediately detained by security personnel.

Law enforcement agencies are currently conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the incident.

Ayasofya Camii’ne giren bir şahıs, yatsı namazı sonrası rahlenin arkasında kâğıtları ateşe vererek Ayasofya’yı kundaklamaya çalıştı.

Yangın, imam tarafından büyümeden söndürüldü.

pic.twitter.com/4mOIl1WMYf

— Gündem 7x24 (@gundem7x24) August 5, 2025