Disturbing new details have emerged about a violent riot that broke out outside a church after its bishop was allegedly stabbed multiple times by a teenager.
Up to 2,000 angry locals gathered outside the Church of Christ the Good Shepherd in Wakeley, in Sydney’s southwest, about 7pm on Monday after Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was allegedly attacked.
The sermon was being broadcast live when a 16-year-old boy allegedly confronted the bishop and stabbed him.
Hundreds of neighbors were alerted to the incident through social media and appeared “out for blood,” causing an uncontrolled riot that surrounded the church for several hours.
Police then descended on the church and sprayed pepper spray on some of those who had gathered, leaving people vomiting and struggling to see.
A friend from church, Dominic Cammareri, who lives, said he was caught up in the violence and was pepper-sprayed from a distance.
“People were vomiting from the pepper spray and running to houses for water,” he said.
Disturbing new details have emerged about a violent riot that broke out outside a church after its bishop was allegedly stabbed multiple times by a teenager.
Up to 2,000 angry locals gathered outside the Good Shepherd Church of Christ in Wakeley, south-west Sydney, after Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was allegedly attacked.
Police and local residents’ cars were vandalized in the melee outside the church on Monday night, and the extent of the damage became clear on Tuesday morning.
Dominic Cammareri, (pictured), who lives nearby, said he was caught up in the violence and was sprayed with pepper spray from a distance.
He blamed the power of social media for the way things escalated so dramatically.
“If it wasn’t for social media, the police would have gotten there before the people rioting and this wouldn’t have happened,” he said.
‘They wanted blood. It was a great accumulation of chaos.
‘My only concern was the bishop’s well-being. ‘He is recovering, but I don’t think he will be discharged from the hospital anytime soon.’
Nearby Welcome Street was littered with broken glass and trash Tuesday morning.
Bricks were seen scattered on the ground, while wooden palisades that had been torn down and used as weapons were also left behind.
Plastic bottles, a vaporizer and strange shoes were also scattered along the road and nature strip.
A group of neighbors believed to be members of the church used brooms and shovels to try to clear some of the debris as camera crews lined the usually quiet street.
Nearby Welcome Street was littered with broken glass and trash Tuesday morning.
Bricks were seen scattered on the ground, while wooden fences that had been torn down and used as weapons were also left behind.
A group of neighbors believed to be members of the church used brooms and shovels to try to clear some of the debris as film crews lined the usually quiet street.
Jaklin Bityou was at Christ the Good Shepherd Church with her husband when the horror unfolded.
His teenage daughter, Mary Anoya, was watching the live broadcast from her home with her aunt and grandmother when she saw Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel stabbed multiple times, knowing that her parents were also potentially in danger.
Mrs. Bityou and her husband were not in the same room as the bishop at the time of the attack, but were nearby in the hallway.
Ms Bityou said they were not able to leave until 11pm and their car is still parked in the church car park, being dusted by forensic officers looking for fingerprints.
“I’m still shaking, it was horrible, we just heard people screaming,” he said.
“We heard that the bishop had been stabbed in the eye.”
Jaklin Bityou (pictured with her teenage daughter Mary Anoya) was at Christ the Good Shepherd Church with her husband when the horror unfolded.
Ms. Bityou said her car is still parked in the church parking lot, being dusted by forensic agents looking for fingerprints.
The 16-year-old accused of stabbing Bishop Emmanuel had recently been given a good behavior bond for knife crime.
Mrs Bityou and her daughter said the church had a strong sense of community and everyone knew each other.
He said parishioners had seen the alleged offender wandering around the perimeter of the church before the attack and said he stood out among regular parishioners.
“He knew the service was being broadcast live and waited for the camera to come on before the (alleged) attack,” Mary said.
‘I was watching the live broadcast with my aunt and grandmother and they let out the loudest screams.
“It’s terrifying, it’s something you wouldn’t expect.”
Bityou said he was able to contact his family to let them know he was okay.
He said that while the rioters’ actions were not acceptable, their anger came from a “place of love” for the bishop.
Local resident Lina Davis was among those outraged by the mob’s reaction.
Jaklin Bityou said that while the protesters’ actions were not acceptable, their anger came from a “place of love” for the bishop.
Jaklin Bityou said the church had a strong sense of community and everyone knew each other.
It comes as the 16-year-old accused of stabbing Bishop Emmanuel had recently been given a good behavior bond for knife offence.
The teenager was charged with several offenses following an incident at a Sydney train station in November last year, the ABC reported.
Charges included possession of a knife, being armed with a weapon with intent to commit a felony, stalking and/or intimidation, and reckless destruction or damage to property.
He had been out on bail before appearing in court in January, where the charges were “proven” but were dismissed with good behavior bail.
The outlet reported that there were no supervision orders in place when he allegedly carried out the attack on Monday night.