Police are tracing more than 52,000 photos and 7,500 videos stored on the phone of a teenager accused of carrying out a terror attack at a Sydney church, as the boy faces new charges, a court heard.
The 16-year-old appeared at Parramatta Youth Court on Friday charged with committing a terrorist act following an investigation by the AFP, ASIO and New South Wales Police.
Police allege the teenager, who cannot be named, stabbed Assyrian church bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel several times at Hope the Good Shepherd Church in western Sydney on April 15.
Another man allegedly suffered lacerations after church members rushed to restrain the teenager, and the church livestreamed the frantic incident during its service.
The teenager has been charged with the alleged stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel. Image: Supplied
The representative of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions told the court they were examining the cache of photographs and videos “for the purpose of designating evidence of terrorism”.
The representative said it would take time to examine the material and warned that parallel forensic warrant procedures to obtain evidence from the scene could also delay the process.
The court was also told the teenager now faces two further charges, including causing grievous bodily harm with intent to murder in relation to the alleged attack on Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel.
The second additional charge – wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm – relates to injuries allegedly inflicted by the teenager on Father Isaac Royel that same night.
He was denied bail to reappear in court for a brief surrender order in just over a month, on July 26.
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel speaks at Wakeley Church on April 28, 2024. Image: Supplied
Police allege the teenager traveled about 90 minutes to the western Sydney church to carry out the attack and, if convicted, faces a possible maximum sentence of life in prison.
The court was previously told the boy, who was in custody after being refused bail, had a history of behavior consistent with mental illness or intellectual disability.
Six other teenagers aged between 15 and 17 who police say were in a network with the alleged stabber have also been charged by officers with terrorism-related offences.
Additionally, police charged 29 people, including five on Thursday, for an alleged riot sparked by the attack during which several police cars were damaged.
The 29 people are not accused of participation in terrorist activities.
Despite the widespread arrest, police on Friday reiterated calls for help in identifying seven more people who investigators believe could help in their investigations.
More to come.
