Alternative Africa

Top Menu

  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contact Us

Main Menu

  • Home
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business
  • Environment
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • More
    • Health
    • News Now
    • Technology
    • World
Sign in / Join

Login

Welcome! Login in to your account

Lost your password?

Lost Password

Back to login
  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contact Us

logo

Alternative Africa

  • Home
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business
  • Environment
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • More
    • Health
    • News Now
    • Technology
    • World
  • Victory for football as protesters force Premiership greedy six to withdraw from European Super League

  • Fresh concerns in South Africa after 130 more succumb to Covid-19

  • UK begins search for new antiviral drug to treat coronavirus, supplement vaccines

  • Derek Chauvin, disgraced cop who killed George Floyd found guilty of murder, faces 75 years in jail

  • Super League Sponsors approach court for pre-emptive injunction against UEFA, FIFA ban

News NowWorld
Home›News Now›I want to make a film on how, why I shot Pope John Paul II-Mehmet Ali Agca

I want to make a film on how, why I shot Pope John Paul II-Mehmet Ali Agca

By alternativeafrica
February 16, 2020
1151
0
Share:

London, Feb. 16, 2020 (AltAfrica)- The man who shot Pope John Paul II has told of his relief that his victim did not die… and has revealed he was his plan to one day make a film on how and why he did what he did.

In an extraordinary interview with the Daily Mirror, Mehmet Ali Agca said “I am planning to make a film or some sort of documentary on what happened. I am hoping Hollywood will be interested”

When asked if he regretted the 1981 attack which shocked the world.

Mehmet Ali Agca, the man who shot Pope John Paul II (Daily Mirror)

After pausing for a second the former terrorist replied: “It was destiny. And it was destiny he survived. I am very glad he didn’t die.

“The Pope became like a brother to me. When he died [in 2005] I felt like my brother or my best friend had died.”We tracked down Agca, 62, to Istanbul, Turkey, where he lives in a small apartment in a quiet suburb.

After 29 years in jail he has renounced his violent past and neighbours know him better as the kind man who daily feeds stray cats and dogs.He said: “I think of how I shot the Pope on most days… not every day now but most days

Pope John Paul collapses after being shot (Daily Mirror)

“I’m a good man now. I try to live my life properly. When I shot him I was 23. I was young and I was ignorant.“I remember how rational I felt. I fired the gun and then it jammed.

Agca also disclosed, for the first time, that he had an English girlfriend just five months before he attacked John Paul II in St Peter’s Square, Rome.He said: “I already knew I was going to shoot the Pope but I didn’t tell my English girlfriend. It wouldn’t have been fair on her.

READ ALSO: NEW GENERATION AFRICAN PARENTS TURN TO PARENTING CLASSES TO RAISE CHILDREN

“You know I had an English girlfriend? I met her in Tunisia in December 1980. Her name was Edith. We met at the Intercontinental Hotel in Hammonasset. I was travelling on a false passport and she would have known me as Farouk.

“I already knew I was going to try and kill the Pope but I didn’t tell her.“She worked in a large London department store like Harrods.

I can’t remember which one.“She was very, very beautiful and I had a great time with her.“She was six or seven years older than me.

But she certainly didn’t know her boyfriend was already planning to kill the Pope.“I do sometimes wonder what happened to her.”

Agca is still reluctant to discuss exactly how his sinister mission came about but the facts are well documented.

At 5.17pm on Wednesday May 13, 1981, as John Paul passed in the Popemobile through excited pilgrims in St Peter’s Square, Agca fired four shots with a 9mm Browning Hi-Power semi-automatic pistol.

He fled in the ensuing panic and got rid of the pistol by throwing it under a lorry. He was then grabbed by a Vatican security chief, a nun and several spectators.

All four bullets hit the Pope, critically injuring him. Two lodged in his colon, one hit his left index finger and the other injured his right arm.

Agca, who had also been charged with murdering left-wing newspaper editor Abdi Ipekci in Istanbul in 1979, was sentenced to life in jail for shooting John Paul.

But the Pope forgave him and after his recovery, visited him in prison.

“There are some things I cannot talk about. In that 22-minute private meeting with the Pope when he visited me in jail there are some things I have never discussed what he told me. It was very special.”

In 2000 Agca was pardoned at the Pope’s request and extradited to Turkey where he spent another 10 years in jail after he was convicted of murdering Mr Ipekci and raiding two banks.

After half a lifetime behind bars he is now transformed but still reluctant to discuss exactly how the mission came about and who financed it.But he did confirm the Soviet Union was behind the shooting.

He said: “It was they who plotted the assassination – they wanted him dead.”

After his release Agca worked as a car salesman but he now lives on royalties from book sales.

He said: “I managed to learn some English when I was in prison. I read The Da Vinci code – it’s a very primitive book about what happens in the Vat­­ican. I also read Tom Clancy.

“I would very much like to visit London if I could get a visa.”Then he joked: “I’m up to date on Brexit – perhaps that will change everything.”

Agca, who is single and never married, is now hoping to tell his story on the big screen. He said: “I am planning to make a film or some sort of documentary on what happened. I am hoping Hollywood will be interested.

SHARE ON:
TagsAssasinationMehmet Ali AgcaPope John Paul II
Previous Article

Ghana secures $100m worth of water project ...

Next Article

Another African athlete, Uganda’s Cheptegei breaks 5km ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

alternativeafrica

Related articles More from author

  • AfricaNews Now

    Sudan’s PM says he’s ‘in good shape’ after assassination attempt

    March 9, 2020
    By alternativeafrica
  • AfricaNews Now

    Female Kenyan journalist shot dead at home

    April 8, 2021
    By alternativeafrica
  • AfricaHealthNews Now

    African Union opens discussion’ with Madagascar over its Covid-19 herbal cure

    May 5, 2020
    By alternativeafrica
  • News Now

    Two Nigerians arraigned in Ghana for alleged internet fraud

    November 30, 2018
    By alternativeafrica
  • News Now

    Nigeria: 36 House of Reps members dump ruling party, APC

    July 24, 2018
    By alternativeafrica
  • AfricaHealthNews Now

    Deploying covid vaccines without clinical trials is risky-Nigerian Scientists warn govt

    December 27, 2020
    By alternativeafrica

Leave a reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

You might be interested

  • BusinessNews Now

    Nigeria: I will privatise NNPC even in death-Atiku

  • AfricaBusinessNews Now

    Leap of faith: ‘I quit my IT job to sell chickens and I’ve doubled my salary’- Nezisa Sogoni

  • AfricaBusinessNews Now

    3,000 Rwandan women farmers get smartphones to access agric information

Timeline

  • April 21, 2021

    Victory for football as protesters force Premiership greedy six to withdraw from European Super League

  • April 21, 2021

    Fresh concerns in South Africa after 130 more succumb to Covid-19

  • April 21, 2021

    UK begins search for new antiviral drug to treat coronavirus, supplement vaccines

  • April 20, 2021

    Derek Chauvin, disgraced cop who killed George Floyd found guilty of murder, faces 75 years in jail

  • April 20, 2021

    Super League Sponsors approach court for pre-emptive injunction against UEFA, FIFA ban

  • Popular

  • Comments

  • Lagos govt confirms first case of deadly coronavirus infection in Nigeria

    By alternativeafrica
    February 28, 2020
  • Morocco begins regional integration by connecting Casablanca Airport with High Speed Train

    By alternativeafrica
    January 4, 2020
  • Kenyan govt pressure Facebook for data on Kenyan users

    By alternativeafrica
    November 20, 2019
  • Archbishop of Canterbury hosts Leah Sharibu’s mother in London

    By alternativeafrica
    February 21, 2020
  • Macron in Ivory Coast to launch anti-terrorism academy

    By alternativeafrica
    December 21, 2019
  • Ethiopia joins Africa's Artificial Intelligence revolution | Alternative Africa
    on
    October 2, 2020

    Spending on Artificial Intelligence Systems in Africa, Middle East to top $374 million in 2020

    […] Many African countries ...
  • The 5 most popular Africans 2020
    on
    September 25, 2020

    Celebrating Congolese doctor Jean-Jacques Muyembe, the man behind breakthrough of Ebola cure

    […] Dr. Jean-Jacques Muyembe ...
  • Millitants in Central Mali Set Jail Ablaze in Attack Killing Two | taktik(z) GDI (Government Defense ...
    on
    August 11, 2020

    Fifteen gendarmes killed in another attack on Mali camp

    […] attack fol­lowed a January ...
  • Millitants in Central Mali Set Jail Ablaze in Attack Killing Two
    on
    August 11, 2020

    Fifteen gendarmes killed in another attack on Mali camp

    […] attack followed a ...
  • chibueze evarlistus ogbonnaya
    on
    July 22, 2020

    Gambia promotes policewoman who controls traffic despite heavy rain

    This is Awesome
AlternativeAfrica.com is an independent Pan African News Website dedicated primarily to influencing the negative narratives about Africa. We hope to do this by focusing and showcasing the many developmental strides sweeping across the continent.

Read more >>>

Contact Info

  • info@alternativeafrica.com
  • Recent

  • Popular

  • Comments

  • Victory for football as protesters force Premiership greedy six to withdraw from European Super League

    By alternativeafrica
    April 21, 2021
  • Fresh concerns in South Africa after 130 more succumb to Covid-19

    By alternativeafrica
    April 21, 2021
  • UK begins search for new antiviral drug to treat coronavirus, supplement vaccines

    By alternativeafrica
    April 21, 2021
  • Derek Chauvin, disgraced cop who killed George Floyd found guilty of murder, faces 75 years ...

    By alternativeafrica
    April 20, 2021
  • Lagos govt confirms first case of deadly coronavirus infection in Nigeria

    By alternativeafrica
    February 28, 2020
  • Morocco begins regional integration by connecting Casablanca Airport with High Speed Train

    By alternativeafrica
    January 4, 2020
  • Kenyan govt pressure Facebook for data on Kenyan users

    By alternativeafrica
    November 20, 2019
  • Macron in Ivory Coast to launch anti-terrorism academy

    By alternativeafrica
    December 21, 2019
  • Ethiopia joins Africa's Artificial Intelligence revolution | Alternative Africa
    on
    October 2, 2020

    Spending on Artificial Intelligence Systems in Africa, Middle East to top $374 million in 2020

    […] Many African countries ...
  • The 5 most popular Africans 2020
    on
    September 25, 2020

    Celebrating Congolese doctor Jean-Jacques Muyembe, the man behind breakthrough of Ebola cure

    […] Dr. Jean-Jacques Muyembe ...
  • Millitants in Central Mali Set Jail Ablaze in Attack Killing Two | taktik(z) GDI (Government Defense ...
    on
    August 11, 2020

    Fifteen gendarmes killed in another attack on Mali camp

    […] attack fol­lowed a January ...
  • Millitants in Central Mali Set Jail Ablaze in Attack Killing Two
    on
    August 11, 2020

    Fifteen gendarmes killed in another attack on Mali camp

    […] attack followed a ...

Photostream

    "); $('.flicker-popup-link').magnificPopup({ type: 'image', closeOnContentClick: true, closeBtnInside: false, fixedContentPos: true, mainClass: 'mfp-no-margins mfp-with-zoom', // class to remove default margin from left and right side image: { verticalFit: true }, gallery: { enabled: true }, zoom: { enabled: true, duration: 600, // duration of the effect, in milliseconds easing: 'ease', // CSS transition easing function opener: function(element) { return element.find('img'); } } }); }); }); });

    Follow us

    • Home
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Contact Us
    © Copyright Alternative Africa 2017 - 2021. All rights reserved.