Australian police said a knife attack during a service at a Sydney church was being investigated as a “religiously motivated” terror incident, following the country’s second mass stabbing in three days.
At least four people, including a bishop and a priest, were injured in the attack during mass at the Assyrian Church of Christ the Good Shepherd in Wakeley, in Sydney’s western suburbs, on Monday. Their injuries were “non-life-threatening,” according to police.
A 16-year-old boy was arrested at the scene after being held down by church members, ABC News reported reported. The incident sparked clashes outside the church between police and the bishop’s followers, who demanded that the attacker be handed over to them.
Video of the incident, captured during a live broadcast of the ceremony, shows Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel standing in front of the altar when a man in a black sweater walks up to him and attacks him.
“We believe there is some religiously motivated extremism,” NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webber said on Tuesday. “Having considered all the material, I declare this to be a terrorist incident.”
Ms Weber said the suspect was known to police but was not on a terrorist watch list.
She told the media that the bishop and priest Father Isaac Royer were “lucky to be alive.”
Emergency workers said they treated about 30 people after the clashes outside the church, seven of whom were injured and taken to hospital.
The Church of Christ of the Good Shepherd called the attack an isolated incident and said it was awaiting the results of a police investigation into the attacker’s motive.
“The Church condemns any form of revenge,” it said.
It was the second mass stabbing incident in Sydney in three days, after a knife attack at a shopping center in the Bondi area left six people – five women and one man – dead. Twelve others were injured in Saturday’s attack.
The attacker, Joel Cauchi, 40, was shot dead by police.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said a French citizen known as the “bollard man” who confronted Couch during the riots was regarded as a hero and would be granted permanent residence by the Australian government for his “bravery” right.
A video showing Damien Guerot holding up a bollard in an attempt to stop a knife-wielding attacker has gone viral.
“I said to Damien … you are welcome to stay as long as you want,” Mr Albanese said on Tuesday.
“We welcome him as an Australian citizen, although this is of course a loss for France. We thank him for his extraordinary courage.”
Police said their investigation will examine why Couch targeted women and avoided men during the attack.
Agency’s Supplementary Report
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