Attempted Arson at Hagia Sophia Quickly Contained, Suspect in Custody
Incident follows evening prayer service; authorities say suspect has history of mental illness.
ISTANBUL — On the evening of Monday, August 4, 2025, a man attempted to set fire to the interior of the Hagia Sophia shortly after a Muslim prayer service, according to protothema.gr. The suspect, wearing a red cap and shorts, ignited papers behind the lectern, which in turn caught part of the carpet on fire.
The man exited the building through the security gate without triggering an alarm, as he was not carrying any metal objects. A woman attending the prayer service noticed the smoke and alerted security personnel, who quickly contained the fire before it could cause significant damage.
Authorities later identified the suspect as Mezut Güçlü using surveillance footage. He was arrested within hours of the incident. Officials confirmed that Güçlü has a documented history of mental health challenges and has previously been hospitalized in a psychiatric clinic.
A video of the attempted arson can be seen here.
