‘At 1.35am. this morning, after consideration of all the material, I declared that it was a terrorist incident,’ said the NSW police commissioner.
The police chief of Australia’s most populous state has declared the live-streamed alleged stabbing of a Christian church leader in Western Sydney “a terrorist incident.”
The incident occurred just two days after Sydney was rocked by the mass stabbing spree in the city’s east, at Westfield Bondi Junction, that resulted in the death of six individuals and injuries to several others.
Orthodox Christian Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was conducting a live-streamed sermon at the Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley at about 7 p.m. on April 15 when a young man dressed in black approached him.
The attacker, later identified as a 15-year-old boy, pulled out a knife and struck the Assyrian bishop multiple times in the head and the upper body as parishioners screamed and ran to stop him.
The teen also stabbed a 39-year-old parishioner, according to reports.
Both church victims were rushed to the hospital for treatment, with the bishop remaining in stable condition with no life-threatening injuries.
Related Stories
The event sparked a riot, with a crowd of hundreds—likely local community members—outside the church chanting and throwing items at police, including bricks, concrete, and palings. Two officers are reported to have been injured with one sustaining a broken jaw.
The video circulated online shows the teenage attacker speaking in Arabic before victim, according to The Daily Telegraph, which translated his words as,, “If he didn’t swear at my prophet I wouldn’t be here. If he didn’t involve himself in my religion I wouldn’t be here.”
Police and State Leader Respond
New South Wales (NSW) Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the attack was ideologically motivated and would be a major investigation.
“At 1.35 a.m. this morning, after consideration of all the material, I declared that it was a terrorist incident,” she said on Tuesday (April 16).
“Strike Force Petrina has been established to investigate that side of the events. Last night, and a referral has been made, and agreed to, by the Joint Counter Terrorism Investigation Team.”
The police commissioner will work with NSW Police, the Australian Federal Police (AFP), and other Commonwealth agencies in the investigation.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said he was informed of the police commissioner’s judgement at 2 a.m.
Mr. Minns said it was “a major and serious criminal investigation” and spoke against vigilantism, warning it could divert resources.
“It is crucial that New South Wales Police are able to devote their resources and intelligence as well as officers to the investigation of this crime,” he told reporters.
The premier also said he had spoken to major religious leaders in the multicultural Western Sydney region who were appealing for calm.
Rioters to be Investigated
Ms. Webb condemned the violent riot outside the church, saying it was “unacceptable.”
“We’ve had police injured and taken to hospital overnight. And we’ve had many, many police vehicles damaged—20 have been damaged, and 10 are unusable,” she said.
“Police attended the incident in Wakeley last night to assist that community in response to calls for assistance, and the crowd turned on police.”
The police commissioner said those involved in the riot can “expect a knock at the door.”
“It might not be today. It might not be tomorrow. But we’ll find you and we’ll come and arrest you. That is totally unacceptable.”
Local Muslim Group, Councillor Speak Out
Shortly after the incident, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Australia issued a statement expressing “profound sadness and shock regarding the brutal attack.”
The group’s National President I. H. Kaiser, said they “unequivocally condemns tonight’s attack on Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel in the strongest possible terms.”
“We extend our deepest sympathy to all those injured in the attack and wish them a speedy and complete recovery.”
Local Cumberland City Councillor Steve Christou urged calm.
“I condemn this unprovoked and mindless attack in the most strongest form and pray for the Bishop’s wellbeing and speedy recovery,” he wrote on X.
“There is no excuse whatsoever to attack a man of faith and God in a place of worship whilst delivering a church service. This is an act of violence of the most horrific nature.”
Federal MP Worried About Division
Local Federal MP for Fowler Dai Le was concerned the terrorist declaration could sow further division in her community, which includes one of the country’s largest Middle-Eastern communities.
“Can you imagine what people will feel when they wake up to the news that our premier has declared that in this small community, there’s a terror event? It is very concerning for me,” she told the ABC.
“I hope they better have a very good reason for that because they’re not living in my multicultural and multi-faith communities.”
The police commissioner, however, said the incident had satisfied the requirements of religiously motivated extremism.
English (US) · 
Turkish (TR) · 