The suspected teenage terrorist accused of stabbing a western Sydney church leader during a service had recently been given a good behavior bond for knife crime.
The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, 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.
The 16-year-old allegedly lunged at Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, 53, and stabbed him in the head during his sermon at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, western Sydney, at around 7pm. Monday afternoon.
The alleged teenage terrorist accused of stabbing a western Sydney church leader during a service had recently been given a good behavior bond for knife offences.
The alleged attack was broadcast live on the church’s YouTube page.
Father Isaac Royel, who serves in the Assyrian ministry at St Shimun Bar Sabbae and St Mary’s Cathedral, was among many parishioners who attempted to intervene and reportedly suffered lacerations and a shoulder wound as a result.
Parishioners said they had seen the alleged criminal wandering around the perimeter of the church before the attack and said he stood out among the regular parishioners.
“He knew the service was being broadcast live and waited for the camera to come on before the (alleged) attack,” Mary Anoya said.
Both the men and the 16-year-old boy were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, where the teenager remains under police guard.
Now a relative has revealed the family’s shock at last night’s event, describing the boy as a “quiet teenager” who “was not a terrorist or an ISIS sympathizer.”
Bishop Emmanuel (left) and Father Royel (right) were rushed to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
“His parents are scared, they didn’t know what to do or why this happened,” said the relative.
‘He’s just a kid who spends a lot of time at home but doesn’t even have a computer. I know what’s been reported about what he said, but it doesn’t fit this kid.
“He’s very quiet… He’s been looking to quit school and get a job, maybe in construction.”
The boy is one of three children. His father, a taxi driver, is a Lebanese immigrant who moved to Australia 25 years ago and the family lives in a humble house in Sydney’s southwest.
The relative said the teen’s parents live “like ordinary Australians” but became concerned on Monday when their son left home and did not return.
After the alleged stabbing attack, the relative said the boy’s father, “panicking,” had contacted him.
“They didn’t know where their son was or what was happening,” he said.
‘They are simple people, a good family, but I had to help them get information from the police about where to go.
‘As far as I knew [the teen] “He hasn’t had any problems before and the idea that he follows ISIS is crazy.”
Police were seen searching the family’s home on Tuesday, and detectives removed two large bags of evidence and a black case from the property.
Relatives, who came to show their support for the boy’s parents, were seen coming and going from the property throughout the afternoon.
When contacted by Daily Mail Australia, the boy’s father passed the phone to another relative who said: “Sorry mate, they’re not in a position to talk.”