Knife attack at church in Australia’s Sydney a ‘terrorist act’, police say
Al Jazeera
Teenage suspect detained over attack that wounded a bishop and priest and triggered a riot in Sydney suburb of Wakeley.
Police in Australia have arrested a 15-year-old 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.
The attack, which took place as a service at Christ The Good Shepherd Church and was being livestreamed on Monday evening, wounded Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel and a priest. Both are expected to survive.
Police arrested the teenager at the scene and were forced to hold him at the church for his own safety as an angry crowd of the bishop’s followers gathered outside.
The crowd went on to clash with the police for more than three hours, demanding that the attacker be handed over to them.
Emergency crews said they treated 30 people for riot-related injuries.
