15-Year-Old Stabs Assyrian Bishop, 3 Others at Church in Sydney
- Milton Quintanilla CrosswalkHeadlines Contributor
- Updated Apr 16, 2024
Police have arrested a 15-year-old male who stabbed an Assyrian bishop and three others during a church service in Sydney, Australia on Sunday evening.
According to CBN News, the incident, which was caught on the church’s livestream, took place at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley.
“A large police response is underway and the public is urged to avoid the area,” police said in response to protests in light of the incident.
One video on social media showed a man dressed in black who proceeded to stab bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel repeatedly in the head and upper body.
Following the attack, the church posted a message on social media stating that the bishop and a senior, Isaac Royel, were in stable condition after they were taken to a hospital.
“It is the bishop’s and father’s wishes that you also pray for the perpetrator,” the church’s statement said. “We also kindly ask anyone at the church premises to leave in peace.”
According to NSW Ambulance service, a man in his 50s was treated for multiple cuts and three others were treated for cuts.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns condemned the attack, calling the scene "disturbing."
"My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and first responders who are working to keep us safe," he said in a statement. "It's important that the community remain calm and continue to listen and act to the directions of police and emergency services."
Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone, leader of the neighboring municipal government, described bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel as a community leader.
“This is a very emotional situation. Obviously the community is very upset,” Carbone told Sky News.
According to The Christian Post, the assailant who was arrested was a 15-year-old young man, whose identity has not yet been released by police. Based on footage posted to X, young man was seen smiling as he was being held by a parishioner
The stabbing incident at the church comes days after a similar yet unrelated incident in Sydney. Per The Guardian, Joel Cauchi, a 40-year-old man with a history of mental illness, reportedly stabbed six women and children at the Westfield shopping complex in the Sydney suburb of Bondi Junction last Saturday.
Image credit: ©Getty Images / seng chye teo
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
