A brutal knife attack during a live-streamed church service in Sydney has been declared a religiously motivated “terrorist” act by Australian police. The incident occurred at an Assyrian Christian church in western Sydney, where a 16-year-old suspect rushed the dais and attacked the bishop giving a sermon.
The bishop was stabbed in the head and chest and had to be taken to the hospital for treatment. The attacker was subdued by congregants and later taken into police custody. Despite being known to police, the suspect was not on any terror watchlists.
Authorities have labeled the attack as an act of religiously motivated “extremism” that intimidated the public. The head of Australia’s spy agency stated that the suspect appeared to have acted alone, and there was no immediate need to raise the country’s terror threat level.
Following the attack, a riot ensued outside the church, with protestors clashing with riot police. Several people were treated for injuries sustained during the incident, and the suspect is now being held at an undisclosed location.
The church released a statement confirming that the victim, Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, is in stable condition and improving. The incident has sparked calls for calm from local leaders, urging the community to act with kindness and respect towards each other.
This attack comes just days after another violent incident in Sydney, where a man with a knife killed six people at a shopping mall before being shot dead by police. The city is reeling from these tragic events, with authorities working to ensure the safety of all residents.