REVENGE FEARS AFTER CHURCH KNIFE ATTACK
Cops hurt in riots amid high tensions in Sydney
COMMUNITY leaders in Australia called for calm yesterday after the stabbing of a bishop and priest at a church service.
A boy of 16 was overpowered at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Sydney after Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel and Father Isaac Royel were attacked on Monday.
The incident was captured on a church livestream and quickly triggered unrest in the suburb of Wakeley.
Police stood guard around mosques after reports texts were circulating urging the Assyrian Christian community to retaliate against Muslims.
Video of the stabbing attack spread quickly on social media and an angry mob converged on the church.
They hurled bricks, bottles and fence boards at police, with many chanting “an eye for an eye”.
Several people including officers required hospital treatment following the hours-long riot.
The church said in a statement yesterday it condemned retaliation of any kind.
The boy was in hospital under police guard yesterday and had yet to be charged.
It was reported his fingers had been severed as he was restrained. He
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reportedly told churchgoers in Arabic: “If they didn’t insult my Prophet, I wouldn’t have come here.”
Iraq-born Bishop Emmanuel, 53, has a strong social media following and is outspoken on a range of issues. The church said he and the priest were in stable condition.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said police were urging social media platforms to shut down accounts posting misinformation that incited violence.
He said: “It’s very difficult to mainhad tain community cohesion when outright lies are spread.”
Police Commissioner Karen Webb declared the church attack a terrorist incident, saying his comments and actions pointed to a religious motive.
The attack came after a stabbing spree a few miles away in Bondi Junction on Saturday, when six people
were killed. Police shot dead knifeman Joe Cauchi. Police and community leaders said public anxiety had been heightened by Cauchi’s shopping mall attack.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warned: “It is not acceptable to injure police doing their duty.”