16-Year-Old Charged with Terrorism in Stabbing of Assyrian Bishop in Sydney Church

A teen boy has been charged with committing a terrorist act after allegedly stabbing Assyrian Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel six times during a live-streamed sermon at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, Sydney. The attack sparked a riot involving around 2,000 angry community members, with two more men arrested and charged over the melee.

The suspect, who was known to police but not on a terror watch list, allegedly traveled for about 90 minutes to reach the Assyrian Christian church. He was taken to the hospital after the attack and is expected to attend a bedside children's court hearing. Police pressed the charges after searching the suspect's electronic devices and interviewing him in the hospital. The teen has been denied bail and could face life in prison if convicted.

Bishop Emmanuel, who has a popular youth following on TikTok and has been a target of criticism and online trolling, is in stable condition in the hospital. He has forgiven his attacker and asked his supporters to be 'Christlike' and refrain from any violence.

The attack has put the normally peaceful city of Sydney on edge, with concerns about possible retaliatory attacks against the Muslim community. The Lakemba mosque, one of Australia's largest, received fire bomb threats after the incident. Despite the concerns, thousands of Muslims gathered in mosques across Sydney for regular prayers on Friday.

Why this matters: The stabbing of a religious leader during a live-streamed service and the ensuing riot involving thousands of people has shocked the nation. It raises concerns about the potential for religious extremism and violence to disrupt the social fabric of Australia's diverse communities.

Police have established Strike Force Dribs to investigate the violent incidents that took place outside the church. They are gathering evidence to identify and charge 50 people involved in the riot, which resulted in damage to 94 police vehicles and left 26 officers injured.

Key Takeaways

• Teen charged with terrorism for stabbing Assyrian bishop 6 times
• Attack sparked riot involving 2,000 people, 2 more arrested
• Bishop Emmanuel in stable condition, has forgiven attacker
• Concerns about possible retaliatory attacks against Muslim community
• Police investigating riot, seeking to identify and charge 50 people