Terror at Sydney Church: Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel Targeted in Alleged Terrorist Incident

Sydney, Australia - In a shocking and disturbing turn of events, police in Australia have labeled the live-streamed stabbing of an Orthodox Christian bishop during a sermon at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley as a terrorist incident.

The incident unfolded on the evening of April 15, when Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was delivering a sermon that was being broadcast live. Suddenly, a young man dressed in black approached the bishop. Without warning, the assailant brandished a knife and began attacking the Assyrian religious leader, striking him multiple times in the head and upper body.

The terrifying scene left parishioners in panic as they screamed and rushed to intervene, trying to stop the assailant. Tragically, several others were also injured during the attack.

Following the assault, victims were swiftly transported to the hospital for urgent medical attention. Thankfully, Bishop Mari Emmanuel is reported to be in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries.

The heinous nature of the attack was compounded by the subsequent uproar it incited within the community. Hundreds of locals gathered outside the church in protest, leading to a riotous situation. Chants filled the air as the crowd threw objects at law enforcement officers, including bricks, concrete, and wooden palings. During this chaos, two police officers were injured, with one suffering a broken jaw.

According to reports, the teenage attacker was heard speaking in Arabic moments before the assault. Translations from The Daily Telegraph indicate that the assailant's words were directed towards the bishop's involvement with religion: "If he didn’t swear at my prophet I wouldn’t be here. If he didn’t involve himself in my religion I wouldn’t be here."

The livestream video shows the alleged attacker shouting “Allah Akbar” as he stabbed the church leader in the upper body at least eight times. Other videos circulating on social media showed the teenager speaking in Arabic to some people nearby, which can be roughly translated as, “If you didn’t swear at my prophet, I wouldn’t be here.”

This shocking incident comes merely two days after another horrific event in Sydney, where a mass stabbing at Westfield Bondi Junction claimed the lives of six individuals and left others wounded.

The assault on Bishop Mari Emmanuel is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by religious leaders and communities worldwide. As investigations continue, the incident underscores the need for vigilance and unity against such senseless acts of violence. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by these tragic events.