A tenth man who allegedly took part in a riot outside a church in Sydney’s west after stabbing a bishop has been charged.
The melee erupted in the suburb of Wakeley, 35 kilometers west of Sydney’s financial district, after the alleged terrorist stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, 53, on April 15.
Officers attached to Strike Force Dribs carried out a search warrant at a house in Milton Street, Granville on Saturday, in connection with the riot.
A 27-year-old man was arrested at the home and several items allegedly related to the Wakeley incident were seized.
The man was taken to the Granville police station, where he was charged with rioting and throwing missiles at a police officer for public disorder.
He was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court on Sunday.
A tenth man (pictured centre), who allegedly took part in a riot outside a western Sydney church after stabbing a bishop, has been charged.
The latest arrest of a suspected rioter follows the arrest of seven youths in counter-terrorism raids, which were also in response to last week’s church stabbing.
More than 400 members of a joint counter-terrorism team from state and federal police forces began breaking down doors at 13 homes in Sydney’s southwest about 11:15 a.m. Wednesday.
The attack on Bishop Emmanuel at the Good Shepherd Assyrian Church of Christ has been declared a religiously motivated terrorist incident.
The detainees were 15, 16 and 17 years old.
“We will allege that these individuals adhere to a religiously motivated violent extremist ideology,” said New South Wales Police Deputy Commissioner David Hudson.
“These investigations have been progressing since the incident, including extensive surveillance activities and intensive scrutiny of these individuals.”
The counter-terrorism team said those arrested allegedly “posed an unacceptable risk to the people of New South Wales”.
“Our current, purely investigative strategies cannot adequately ensure public safety,” Commissioner Hudson said.
‘As a result, we determined that we needed to intensify our activities and that open action was required.
“I can assure the community that there is no ongoing threat to the community and that the measures we have taken today have mitigated any risk of future or further harm.”
Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett emphasized that the arrests were not racially or religiously motivated.
‘I want to be very clear: we are targeting crime and not countries. Our goal is radicalization, not religion,” he stated.
‘We ask Australians to remain vigilant. “I urge anyone who sees or hears anything they think is wrong to contact the Homeland Security Hotline immediately.”
Officers attached to Strike Force Dribs carried out a search warrant at a house in Milton Street, Granville on Saturday, in connection with the riot.
A 27-year-old man was arrested at the scene and a number of items allegedly related to the Wakeley incident were seized.
The raids took place in Bankstown, Prestons, Casula, Lurnea, Rydalmere, Greenacre, Strathfield, Chester Hill and Punchbowl, as well as a property in Goulburn, 195 kilometers southwest of Sydney.
A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, is accused of stabbing Bishop Emmanuel during a sermon broadcast live in front of parishioners.
He was charged with terrorism offenses and denied bail.
The police’s use of the term terrorism indicates that authorities believe the incident was religiously or politically motivated.
Witnesses to the attack on the bishop said the alleged perpetrator used the Islamic phrase “Allahu Akbar” and allegedly said in Arabic that Bishop Emmanuel had denigrated “my prophet.”
The man (left) was taken to Granville Police Station where he was charged with rioting and throwing missiles at a police officer for disorderly conduct.
The stabbing sparked a mass riot outside the church with around 2,000 people shouting “take him out” and “an eye for an eye”.
Police kept the suspected terrorist inside the church during the demonstration, fearing for his safety.
Dozens of police officers were injured and police property was damaged in the riot, with some officers and paramedics forced to take shelter inside the church.
Crime Stoppers New South Wales 1800 333 000
National Security Hotline 1800 123 400
