The boy accused of stabbing a bishop while delivering a sermon had been mentally “poisoned” in the run-up to the alleged attack, Muslims who prayed with him have claimed.
The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, allegedly pounced on Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, 53, and stabbed him in the head at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, west Sydney, around 7pm on Monday.
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.
In the wake of the incident, a WhatsApp audio message circulated among Sydney’s Muslim community that purportedly identified the accused boy. The Australian reported.
‘Unfortunately, sadly that (alleged attacker) prayed today (with us)… These children have been poisoned by a monster,’ the audio message said.
“This child has been poisoned,” the message continued. ‘This child, I barely saw (the videos), is him. Keep calm, be patient, inshallah.’
An audio message shared among Sydney’s Muslim community reportedly identifies the teenager who allegedly stabbed Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel on Monday night (pictured).
Police declared the alleged stabbing, which took place on a livestream, an act of terror, and federal and state police alleged it was motivated by religious extremism.
However, 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.’
The alleged attacker in the photo after the stabbing
Minns said state Police Commissioner Karen 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.”
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 injured and the 16-year-old were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The teenager remains in police custody.
The incident sparked fury when around 2,000 people arrived at the church and clashed with police as they tried to reach the teenager while chanting “an eye for an eye”.
The incident sparked a riot when an angry crowd of worshipers clashed with police as they fought to gain access to the boy, who had to be separated from the crowd for his own safety.
During the furor, projectiles were thrown at officers, more than 20 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.”
The 16-year-old was taken from the church and taken to hospital, where he underwent surgery for hand injuries suffered during the alleged attack.
He accidentally cut his finger during the alleged attack, after rumors initially spread on social media that he had been injured by vigilantes.
A New South Wales Joint Counter Terrorism Team has been established to investigate the incident, made up of members of the New South Wales Police Force, the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Security Intelligence Organization and the Counter Terrorism Commission. New South Wales Crime.