Sydney Church Stabbing: Bishop Targeted in Apparent Terrorist Attack, Confirm Police

A bishop and a priest were stabbed in an alleged “terrorist act” at a Sydney church that sparked a riot on Monday, police said, just two days after the Australian city was rocked by a mass stabbing in a busy shopping mall.

Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was presiding over a service that was being livestreamed at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in the western suburb of Wakeley, when an alleged attacker was seen charging toward him. Several parishioners immediately attempted to intervene while screams could be heard in the church.

Members of the public at the scene restrained the alleged attacker, as reported by New South Wales police. The police arrived and took the suspect into custody. The suspect, a 15-year-old boy, was later identified and taken to the hospital for surgery to treat injuries sustained during the attack.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb stated that authorities believe the attack was planned in advance.

"We believe that [the suspect] went to the church with a knife and attacked the bishop and priest. We think this incident may be linked to extremist views based on religion," she explained.

A livestream of the service appeared to show Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel being attacked.

A livestream of the service appeared to show Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel being attacked.

Australian Jewish Association/Twitter

Both men involved in the incident were injured. The 53-year-old man sustained cuts to his head, while the 39-year-old man who tried to help ended up with cuts and a shoulder wound. Paramedics provided treatment at the scene before transporting them to the hospital.

According to the police, the men are fortunate to have survived the ordeal.

Christ The Good Shepherd Church reported that Bishop Emmanuel sustained multiple injuries to his head and body. The parish priest, Father Isaac Royel, was also hurt, but thankfully, no one else inside the church was affected.

According to Charbel Saliba, the Deputy Mayor of Fairfield City in western Sydney, Bishop Emmanuel was a familiar and respected figure within the local community.

While the bishop was bleeding, “he put his hand on the man that stabbed him and said something like, ‘May the Lord Jesus Christ Save you,’” Saliba said.

Riot erupts outside church

Video of the attack quickly circulated on social media, causing community members to gather at the church in anger, police reported. The footage captured chaotic moments as individuals began throwing objects at police vehicles.

The police commissioner, Webb, criticized the unruly crowd that formed shortly after law enforcement and emergency personnel reached the location, denouncing their behavior as "completely unacceptable."

"People gathered in that area and started to attack the police. They used whatever they could find nearby, like bricks, concrete, and fence posts, to harm the police and throw objects at them, including police equipment and vehicles," explained Webb.

According to NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan, paramedics and police had to seek refuge inside the church as the violent crowds rioted outside. They remained inside for three and a half hours until the situation calmed down.

The situation quickly escalated as the crowds grew from 50 to hundreds of people in a short amount of time. Our paramedics were put in direct danger," he explained.

Six of our paramedics were unable to leave the facility due to concerns for their safety. I agree with the police commissioner - this behavior is unacceptable."

NSW Ambulance treated 30 patients, with seven of them taken to the hospital. Around 20 patients were treated for the effects of pepper spray.

Police reported that some 20 police vehicles were damaged, with 10 of them deemed unusable.

The Church supported the police response in a statement, stating that officers took necessary steps when onlookers and visitors who came to express their support for the bishop refused multiple requests by police and clergy to leave.

The Church categorizes this attack as isolated and denounces retaliation of any kind.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns described the scenes as "disturbing" and called for a meeting with faith leaders from various religious communities in western Sydney on Monday evening.

The suspect, who remains unnamed, was not on any terror watch list, according to Police Commissioner Webb. Although police suspect he acted alone, they stressed that the investigation is still in its early stages.

Police responded to a stabbing incident at the Westfield Bondi Junction shopping mall in Sydney on April 13, 2024. Reports indicated that "multiple people" were injured in the attack. The Australian police quickly arrived at the busy shopping center to address the situation.

David Gray/AFP/Getty Images

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Police believe that the Sydney mall attacker may have specifically targeted women, as they continue to gather more information about the six victims involved. According to Webb, authorities have already spoken with the boy's parents, although she was unable to disclose specific details of their conversation.

The incident at Westfield Bondi Junction in Sydney occurred shortly after a stabbing attack that resulted in six deaths and multiple injuries, including a 9-month-old baby. Australian police revealed on Monday that the attacker, Joel Cauchi, aged 40, may have specifically targeted women.

Five women lost their lives in the attack, while twelve others were injured. Eight of the injured individuals are still in the hospital as of Monday, with their conditions ranging from stable to critical.

Please note that this story has been updated with additional information.

CNN’s Christian Edwards wrote from London and Paul Devitt reported from Sydney.

Editor's P/S:

The stabbing