Australian Church Stabbing Declared as Religiously Motivated “Terrorist Act”

By Tiffanie Turnbull & Simon Atkinson

Updated 15th April 2024

Watch: Police disperse hundreds of protesters that gathered outside the church after the stabbing

Australian police have declared Monday’s stabbing at a Sydney church a religiously motivated “terrorist act”. A 16-year-old boy was arrested after a bishop, a priest, and churchgoers were attacked during mass at the Assyrian Christ The Good Shepherd Church, located about 35km south-west of the city center.

The incident, captured on a church livestream, quickly triggered unrest in the suburb of Wakeley, with hundreds of people gathering outside the church and clashing with police. Two officers were injured, one with a broken jaw, and the violence left 20 police vehicles damaged, with 10 being rendered unusable.

Intimidating the Congregation

The teenager allegedly made religiously centered comments to the bishop as he approached, and police believe that staging the attack during a livestreamed service was intended to be “intimidating not only to the parishioners in attendance, but those parishioners who were watching online”. The motive behind the attack has been identified as religious extremism.

Condemnation and National Security Measures

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has convened an emergency meeting of national security agencies, calling the attack “disturbing”. He emphasized that Australia is a peace-loving nation and stressed that there is no place for violent extremism. Mr. Albanese also expressed concern about the role of social media, calling out the harmful publication of videos, especially for younger people, and urged people not to take the law into their own hands.

NSW (New South Wales) Police Commissioner Karen Webb stated that the bishop and priest were undergoing surgery and are “lucky to be alive”. The names of the victims were not revealed. The bishop has been described by local media as Mar Mari Emmanuel, a popular and controversial figure known for his sermons on social media platforms, which have garnered millions of views.

Security and Investigation

The police believe the suspect acted alone and, although “known to police,” he was not on any terror watch list. Investigators are still working to uncover further details about the attacker and his motives. Police have also assembled a strike force to investigate the recent unrest, with a strong message that those involved in the riot will be arrested.

Community Appeal for Calm

Following recent disturbing events, including a separate and unrelated stabbing that resulted in seven deaths at a popular Sydney shopping center, state premier Chris Minns expressed understanding for the community’s anxiety. He called for calm and emphasized that religious and community leaders deplore violence in all forms, having faith in the NSW Police’s ability to undertake a thorough investigation.

Wakeley, the neighborhood of the church, is home to Sydney’s small Christian Assyrian community, many of whom have sought refuge in Australia after fleeing persecution and war in Iraq and Syria. Bishop Emmanuel is a prominent leader within this community, highly regarded for his genuine and compassionate character.