A bishop and several others were stabbed during a sermon at the Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Sydney’s Wakeley suburb on Monday evening.
Though police responded to reports of multiple stabbings, they stated that none of the injuries were life-threatening. A suspect has been arrested and taken into custody, according to BBC.
The bishop, identified as Mar Mari Emmanuel, and a priest named Father Isaac were among those injured and were taken to the hospital. The church urged prayers for the victims and requested those present to vacate the premises peacefully.
Following the incident, large crowds gathered outside the church, with some unverified footage showing individuals attacking the building and emergency service vehicles. Local authorities have called for calm, emphasizing that the injured bishop is expected to recover.
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According to AFP news agency, the neighbourhood is a hub for Sydney’s small Christian Assyrian community, many of whom have fled persecution and war in Iraq and Syria.
In the livestreamed video on the sermon, a man dressed in dark clothing can be seen approaching the bishop before appearing to strike him with a weapon that was not immediately identified.
Several other people then attempt to intervene and screams of horror can be heard.
“The injured people suffered non-life threatening injuries and are being treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics,” police said in a statement.
Those hurt are all thought to be men aged between 20 and 70. The motive for the attack is unknown.
The stabbing comes days after six people were killed at a shopping mall in the same city. The attacker was later shot dead by a police officer.
There is no suggestion the two events are linked.
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