The priest stabbed alongside a bishop in an alleged “act of terror” in Sydney has been released from hospital and appears to be in good spirits.
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was allegedly stabbed multiple times by a 16-year-old boy while giving a sermon at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley on Monday evening.
Father Isaac Royel suffered injuries to his hand and had to come to the bishop’s aid.
He left Liverpool hospital on Wednesday and was seen greeting an excited neighbor with a bandage around his hand.
Bishop Emmanuel remains in hospital in stable condition after undergoing surgery on Tuesday.
The incident sparked riots outside the church on Monday, with a crowd of 2,000 chanting “take him out” and “an eye for an eye”, as police kept the suspected knifeman inside the building amid fears for his own safety.
On Wednesday afternoon, police revealed they had arrested a 19-year-old man, the first to be investigated over the “public order incident”. No charges have yet been filed.
Father Isaac Royal (pictured right, alongside Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel) has been released from hospital after being injured during an alleged “act of terrorism” on Monday night.
During the furor, projectiles were thrown at officers, around 50 police vehicles were damaged and property was stolen.
Two police officers were taken to hospital after being injured by members of the crowd who broke into “several houses to obtain weapons and throw them at the police.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has criticized those who attacked police cars following last night’s terrorist attack in Sydney.
“I certainly understand the anguish and concerns that exist, especially after the tragic event in Bondi,” he said.
“But it is completely unacceptable to impede and injure police in the line of duty or damage police vehicles as happened last night,” he exclaimed.
Albanese urged the public to remain calm.
The priest received injuries to his hand and shoulder while trying to remove a 16-year-old who allegedly stabbed Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel in a live-streamed incident (pictured).
Father Royel was seen walking from the hospital and greeting an excited neighbor with a bandage around his hand on Wednesday afternoon (pictured).
The teenager accused of carrying out the attack reportedly made a series of religious comments to a group of worshipers moments after the bishop was stabbed.
An Arabic translation of his comments reads: ‘If I had not insulted my Prophet, I would not be here. “If he didn’t get involved in my religion, I wouldn’t be here.”
He has been transferred to an undisclosed location where he remains under police surveillance.
Police confirmed the 16-year-old had undergone surgery for serious hand injuries after rumors circulated that he lost a finger during the alleged attack.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb called the attack on the bishop a “religion-centered” “terrorist incident.”
He said police knew the suspect, but he was not on any terrorist watch list.
“We will allege that there is some degree of premeditation… this person traveled to that location… he traveled with a knife and subsequently the bishop and the priest were stabbed,” Commissioner Webb said Tuesday.
“They’re lucky to be alive.”
Commissioner Webb’s decision led to the creation of a joint counterterrorism team to investigate the incident.
The team includes members of the New South Wales Police Force, Australian Federal Police, Australian Security Intelligence Organization and the New South Wales Crime Commission.
The attack sparked mass riots as angry gangsters descended on the church and clashed with police as they tried to reach the accused teenager who was at the scene hours later.
NSW Police made their first arrest in connection with the riots, a 19-year-old man, on Wednesday afternoon after Commissioner Webb called the attack on the bishop a “terrorist incident”.
Given the defendant’s young age, some have questioned the decision to classify the incident as terrorism-related and insisted that mental health may have been the primary cause.
However, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said he was comfortable with the police’s decision.
“It’s really important to know, and I made it clear to the community leaders I spoke to today, that this is not a designation about the person of interest currently in police custody,” he told ABC’s 7.30 Report.
‘This is an appointment required by legislation to unlock powers for that investigation, and the police made that decision. This is not a performative gesture.’
Minns said Commissioner Webb made the decision “based on information suggesting a religiously motivated attack” that was also allegedly premeditated.
Asked if the decision was made correctly, the prime minister said: “I think so.”
“This is a matter of judgment,” he added. “My opinion is that last night was the right decision.”