Five teenagers have been charged with terrorism and extremism-related offenses following an investigation into the horrific stabbing at a church in western Sydney.
A joint counterterrorism team, with more than 400 state and federal police officers, raided 13 homes in the southwest of the city around 11:15 a.m. Wednesday.
The raids were in response to the alleged stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, western Sydney, on April 15.
Police declared the incident, which was broadcast live by the church, as a religiously motivated terrorist attack and arrested the 16-year-old.
On Wednesday, police raided the homes of the alleged attacker’s associates after a WhatsApp group found on his phone uncovered an alleged youth terrorist cell.
Police have arrested seven teenagers following an investigation into alleged associates of the 16-year-old who allegedly stabbed the bishop of a church in Sydney’s west.
Police charged five of the arrested teens, and three were charged with conspiring to engage in any act of preparation or planning for a terrorist act.
One of the alleged members of the teenage terror cell, which police say operates in Sydney’s southwestern suburbs, is understood to be a young relative of an adult currently behind bars for terrorism offences.
Police called the group “religiously motivated violent extremists” and believed they were “probably” planning another attack.
New South Wales Police Deputy Commissioner Dave Hudson said authorities were forced to act before another terrorist attack occurred.
“The group, the subject of their attention, was considered to pose an unacceptable risk to the people of New South Wales, and our current purely investigative strategies could not adequately ensure public safety,” Dep Comm Hudson said.
‘As a result, we determined that we needed to intensify our activities and that open action was required.
‘During the investigation we believed that an attack was likely to occur.
‘Their behavior, while they were under that surveillance, led us to believe that, if they committed any act, we would not be able to prevent it.
‘No specific objectives had been designated. However, it’s also just the constant threat and laid-back nature of the group.
Police said there was no specific threat to public safety and the raids had no connection to Anzac Day commemorations on Thursday.
However, the domestic terrorist threat level remains “possible.”
The raids were in response to the alleged stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley.
Seven teenagers were arrested during the raids and police charged five of them with terrorism-related offences.
The identities of the boys are unknown but they are between 14 and 17 years old.
Three men, two aged 16 and one aged 17, were charged with conspiring to engage in any act of preparation or planning for a terrorist act, with the older man also facing a single charge of having a knife. in a public place.
A 17-year-old and a 14-year-old were also charged with possession or control of violent extremist material obtained or accessed through a transportation service.
The five teenagers were refused bail and will appear in the Sydney Youth Court on Thursday.
The other minors and men arrested during the raids are assisting police with the ongoing investigation.
Suburbs included in the raids were Bankstown, Prestons, Casula, Lurnea, Rydalmere, Greenacre, Strathfield, Chester Hill and Punchbowl, as well as a property in Goulburn, 195 kilometers southwest of Sydney.
More than 400 state and federal police officers raided 13 homes in the city’s southwestern suburbs, including Bankstown, Prestons, Casula, Lurnea, Rydalmere, Greenacre, Strathfield, Chester Hill and Punchbowl.
A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, is accused of stabbing Bishop Emmanuel, 55, during a sermon broadcast live in front of parishioners.
The teenager allegedly stabbed the popular Christian leader six times and is in preventive detention after being accused of terrorism-related crimes.
The police’s use of the term terrorism indicates that authorities believe the incident was religiously or politically motivated.
Witnesses to last Monday’s attack said the alleged perpetrator used the Islamic phrase ‘Allahu Akbar’ and allegedly said in Arabic that Bishop Emmanuel had denigrated ‘my prophet’.
The stabbing sparked a mass riot outside the church with around 2,000 people chanting “take him out” and “an eye for an eye.”
Police kept the suspected terrorist inside the church during the demonstration, fearing for his safety.
The large angry crowd saw dozens of officers injured and police property damaged, and some were forced to take shelter inside the church alongside paramedics.
Police made their first arrest in connection with the riot just hours before the teenager was charged with terrorism.
Police released images of nine other men they wish to speak to in connection with the riot. Anyone with information has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
All five were refused bail to appear in youth court today (Thursday 25 April 2024).
Operational activity continues, and the other minors and men are helping the police with investigations.
There is no specific threat to public safety or Anzac Day commemorations.
The Sydney Joint Counter Terrorism Team is made up of members of the New South Wales Police Force, the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) and the New South Wales Crime Commission.
Anyone with information about extremist activities or possible threats to the community should come forward, no matter how small or insignificant they believe the information may be. The national security hotline is 1800 123 400.