Indian priest knifed in Oz Assailant asked Father if he was Hindu
In a suspected case of racist attack, a priest from Thamarassery diocese here was stabbed by a white man at the altar at Fawkner North in Melbourne, Australia. The priest was about to celebrate the Sunday Mass when the incident took place. The man asked Fr Tomy Kalathoor if he was an ‘Indian Hindu priest’ before attacking him.
According to diocese PRO Fr Abraham Kavilpurayidathil, the priest, a native of Karimbu near Anakkampoyil, Kozhikode, was serving as vicar of St Mathews Parish in North Melbourne for the last four years. The assailant, who approached the vicar before the Holy Mass, said that he wanted to speak with him in private. The vicar refused and told him that he could speak to him after the Mass. The assailant then suddenly took out a knife hidden in his clothes and stabbed the priest on the neck.
A priest Fr Tomy Kalathoor from Thamarassery diocese here was stabbed by a white man at the altar at Fawkner North in Melbourne, Australia. The impact of the attack was reduced due to the thick clothes worn by the priest to protect himself from the cold, apart from the cassock and additional vestment for the Holy Mass.
“The assailant escaped soon after the incident,” Fr Abraham Kavilpurayidathil, Public relations officer of Thamarassery diocese, said.
Meanwhile, Thamarassery diocese Bishop Remigius Inchananiyil spoke to Fr Tomy over phone. The priest was discharged from hospital after being administered first aid. The attacker had approached the vicar last Sunday and enquired if he was an Indian.
Fr Tomy was ordained in 1994. He had served the diocese as vicar in various parishes of Adakkakkundu, Kallurutti, Chundathumpoyyil and Vettilappara, earlier.