Australian police announced on Tuesday that the knife attack during a service at an Assyrian church in Sydney, which injured a bishop, was deemed a terrorist act driven by suspected religious extremism.
The incident occurred during a live-streamed service at the Assyrian Christ The Good Shepherd Church in the western Sydney suburb of Wakeley on Monday, leaving at least four people wounded, including Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel.
Law enforcement officers apprehended a male teenager at the scene and held him at the church for his safety as worshippers gathered outside. New South Wales state Police Commissioner Karen Webb stated during a press conference that there were elements indicating religiously motivated extremism, leading to the declaration of the incident as a terrorist act.
According to authorities, the attacker, armed with a knife, traveled a considerable distance from his home to reach the church, suggesting a degree of premeditation. However, police believe at this early stage of the investigation that the assailant acted alone.
Emergency responders attended to approximately 30 individuals after the altercation outside the church, with seven transported to hospitals for treatment. Additionally, several police officers sustained injuries, and 20 police vehicles were damaged during the incident.
This marks the second major stabbing incident in Sydney within three days, following a knife attack at a beachside mall in the Bondi area on Saturday, resulting in six fatalities and 12 injuries.
Bishop Emmanuel, known for his globally streamed sermons, was delivering an evening service when the assailant attacked him with a knife, as captured in video footage. His outspoken views, particularly regarding COVID lockdowns, have garnered significant attention, with his sermons amassing hundreds of thousands of views on platforms like YouTube and TikTok.
In response to the incident, New South Wales state Premier Chris Minns cautioned against retaliatory violence and affirmed that perpetrators would face the full consequences of the law.
The investigation into the stabbing incident continues, as authorities remain vigilant in addressing threats of religiously motivated extremism and ensuring the safety of communities in Sydney.
For more updates follow our Whatsapp 
and Telegram Channel 
