Police in Australia have arrested a teenage boy over a knife attack on a bishop and his followers at an Orthodox Assyrian church in Sydney, declaring the assault a “terrorist act" motivated by suspected religious extremism.

Council of the City of Sydney

Police in Australia have apprehended a teenage boy following a knife attack at an Orthodox Assyrian church in Sydney. The incident involved the stabbing of a bishop and his followers. Authorities have declared the assault a “terrorist act,” attributing the motive to suspected religious extremism.



Police say Sydney church stabbing was 'terrorist act'

It's an incident that shocked not only church goers, but those watching the service live online. Bishop Mahmari Emanuel of the Orthodox Assyrian Church attacked while delivering his Monday sermon. Members of the congregation overpowered the suspect immediately after. A 16-year-old boy has since been arrested. In the hours after the attack, a crowd of hundreds seeking revenge gathered outside the church, hurling bricks and bottles, wounding police and preventing officers from taking the teen outside. The incident took hours to bring under control. The church and local leaders have pleaded for calm. A number of houses have been damaged, they've broken into a number of houses to gain weapons to throw at the police. They've thrown weapons and items at the church itself, it was obviously people who wanted to get access to the young person who has caused the injuries to the clergy people. God said this is a male. Bishop Mahmari Emanuel is a charismatic and controversial figure with a significant online following. He was an outspoken critic of COVID-19 lockdowns and is known for preaching anti-LGBTQ views. Police say the attack was religiously motivated. We believe there are elements that are satisfied in terms of religious motivated extremism. Ten years ago his church reportedly broke away from the main Assyrian church of the east after the bishop was excommunicated over theological differences. The attack comes just days after a mass stabbing at a Sydney shopping mall which left six people dead. This is a disturbing incident. There is no place for violence in our community, there is no place for violent extremism. We are a peace loving nation. Police are continuing to investigate the attacker's motives while Christ the Good Shepherd Church has published a statement denouncing any retaliation. Jacob Brown, Al Jazeera.

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