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Terror Strikes in Sydney Church as Stabbing Declared 'Terrifying' Attack

 

Sydney Church

The stabbing at a Sydney church on Monday was a "terrorist act" motivated by religion, according to Australian authorities.

A 16-year-old teenager was detained after a bishop, a priest, and churchgoers were assaulted during mass at the Assyrian Christ the Good Shepherd Church.

At least four persons sustained "non-life-threatening" injuries, according to authorities. The attacker was also injured.

The event was filmed on a church livestream, causing immediate discontent in the Wakeley district.

Terrorism offenses in Australia are defined by police as ideologically motivated. Investigations are still on, but officials say they are confident this is a case of religious fanaticism.

Authorities have frequently declined to disclose the religion of the suspected perpetrator.

Graphic footage of the incident and its aftermath went viral on social media on Monday night, attracting an angry mob to the Assyrian Orthodox Church, which is around 35 kilometers south-west of the city center.

The mob, which numbered in the hundreds, battled aggressively with police officers who were guarding the church where the attacker was receiving medical treatment.

Two cops were injured, one with a fractured jaw from being hit with a brick and fence palings, and ten police cars were smashed. Similarly, the violence left paramedics "holed up" inside the church for more than three hours, afraid about their safety.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called an emergency meeting of national security agencies, describing the incident as "disturbing".

"We're a peace-loving nation... There's no place for violent extremism." To prevent additional bloodshed, he advised people to "not take the law into their own hands."

Speaking to the media on Tuesday morning, New South Wales (NSW) Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the bishop and priest were in surgery and were "lucky to be alive".

Father Isaac Royel and Mar Mari Emmanuel are the names given by the church to the priest and bishop, respectively. Bishop Emmanuel was ordained in 2011 and is regarded as a popular and controversial figure, with his sermons receiving millions of views on social media.

According to Ms. Webb, the teenager allegedly made religious comments to the bishop as he approached, and police believe staging the attack during a livestreamed service was intended to be "intimidating not only [to] the parishioners in attendance, but those parishioners who were watching online."

She stated that the suspect was acting alone and, while "known to police," he was not on any terror watch list.

The suspected criminal has also undergone surgery after his fingers were wounded, according to police, however it is unclear if he was harmed with his own weapon or when he was captured by the congregation.

The tragedy occurred only days after the nation was stunned by a different and unconnected stabbing at a prominent Sydney retail mall that killed seven people.

"NSW is on edge, and there's understandable community anxiety at the moment," said NSW Premier Chris Minns. He urged calm, echoing requests from religious and community groups.

"Their message to their communities was universal and identical, and that is that they deplore violence in all forms, [and] that they have faith in the NSW Police to undertake their investigation," said Mr Minns.

Any attempt at "tit-for-tat" violence would be dealt with "the full force of the law," he said.

A strike squad has also been established to identify anyone engaged in the violence, according to Ms Webb: "We will find you and come and arrest you."

The NSW Ambulance chief also described the crowd's behavior as "outrageous".

"Our people, that do nothing but go to care and help every single day, need to know that they've got the support of the community," Morgan added.

The Wakeley suburb is a focus for Sydney's tiny Christian Assyrian population, many of whom have escaped persecution and conflict in Iraq and Syria.

Bishop Emmanuel is a significant leader in that town and is described as one of the "kindest, [most] authentic, genuine human beings" by local MP Dai Le.

However, the bishop has had a tumultuous history with the Assyrian Church, apparently being suspended for violating canons and founding a rival church.

In 2021, he became an outspoken opponent of Covid-19 limitations, comparing lockdowns in Australia to slavery and claiming that vaccinations were ineffective.