Sydney church attack ‘terror-related,’ declares Australian police

Police arrested a 16-year-old boy, whom members of the public had restrained, say New South Wales Police

 The church attack that left four people injured in Sydney as “terror-related,” declared the Australian police, saying the counter-terrorism team will investigate the incident.

The incident occurred on Monday at the Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, western Sydney, an Assyrian Orthodox church, at around 7:10 p.m. local time (0910 GMT).

“A 16-year-old boy, whom members of the public had restrained, was arrested by police. He remains in hospital, under police guard,” New South Wales Police said in a statement.

“A declaration by NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb APM has deemed the incident terror-related,” it added.

Earlier, it was reported that all four victims were being treated for lacerations.

At the same time, a man in his 50s was taken to Liverpool Hospital, while the injuries of the victims were not life-threatening.

Footage on local broadcasters showed the priest, identified as H.G. Mar Mari Emmanuel, being taken to an ambulance in a stretcher.

Local Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone told reporters he believed the bishop would be “okay.”

Call for calm

The incident was live-streamed on the church’s Facebook account, showing a priest being stabbed multiple times by a young man before other churchgoers stepped in to overpower him.

The footage showed the attacker walking toward Emmanuel and suddenly attacking him, forcing him to fall to the ground.

Horrified worshippers could be heard screaming before the live feed was cut off.

Tensions rose after the shocking incident, with hundreds of people gathering outside the church.

According to Sky News, mass disorder broke out in the aftermath, while Mayor Carbone called for calm.

“We live in difficult times right now, … so I can understand the frustration and anger from the communities, but I ask them, as the mayor, just to please be calm,” he said.

The violent attack in a place of worship took place just two days after a 40-year-old man killed six people and injured 12 more in a stabbing spree in a mall in Sydney.

Source: AA