Trabzon (AsiaNews) – A Catholic priest of French nationality, Fr Pierre Brunissen, was attacked today in Turkey by a stranger who was immediately apprehended by police.

The priest had reopened the church in Trabzon where Fr Andrea Santoro, an Italian priest, was killed on 5 February as he prayed.

A local police official said the Catholic priest was injured in his side after he was attacked in a street in Samsun, a coastal area around 350km from Trabzon.

Fr Brunissen was admitted to hospital but he is not in danger of dying. The attack took place around one kilometre away from the church where the priest carries out his ministry.

The Apostolic Nuncio in Turkey, Mgr Antonio Lucibello, confirmed the identity and condition of the priest.

On 5 March, Fr Brunissen held a Eucharistic function to reopen the church of St Mary in Trebisonda, the church where Fr Andrea Santoro was parish priest.

On 21 February, some youth – labelled by local police as "drug addicts" – entered the church of Samsun and threatened Fr Pierre Brunissen.

This is the third attack against representatives of the Catholic Church in Turkey: after the tragic death of Fr Santoro, a Franciscan, also from Trebisonda, received death threats.