A 16-year-old boy has been charged with terrorism after a Christian bishop was allegedly stabbed while giving a sermon in church.
The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, allegedly stabbed Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel while delivering a live-streamed sermon in front of parishioners at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, western Sydney, on Monday shortly after 7 p.m.
The incident sparked riots outside the church with a crowd of 2,000 chanting “get him out” and “an eye for an eye” as police kept him inside the building amid fears for his safety.
On Thursday night, police revealed that the teenager had been charged with terrorism.
The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, allegedly stabbed Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel while he was delivering a live-streamed sermon in front of parishioners at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, western Sydney, on Monday shortly after 7 pm (pictured). ). He was accused of committing a terrorist act Thursday night.
“This afternoon, Sydney Joint Terrorism Team investigators attended a medical facility to interview the boy, before he was charged with committing a terrorist act under section 101.1 of the Criminal Code (Commonwealth) Act 1995. , an offense that carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment,” the New South Wales Police spokesperson said.
The 16-year-old has been refused bail and will appear in court tomorrow.
The alleged attack and its horrific aftermath, in which some officers were injured by projectiles and some 50 police vehicles damaged, were condemned across the political spectrum.
On Wednesday afternoon, police revealed they had arrested a 19-year-old man, the first to be investigated over the “public order incident”. He has since been released on bail.
More to come.