Police up presence in western Sydney

SYDNEY: The police presence will be bolstered across western Sydney and around places of worship for days as ‘‘combustible’’ conditions persist following the stabbing of a church bishop.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said Australia’s largest city was experiencing an abnormal situation following two major public attacks.

‘‘I can understand people’s concern and anxiety in what has been an incredibly difficult week in Sydney,’’ he said.

His comments follow the stabbing of an outspoken bishop at a western Sydney church, which has been declared an act of terror, and the killing of six people at an eastern suburbs shopping centre by a mentally ill man.

The Monday night church attack led to a riot in which police were injured and their cars damaged as officers and paramedics were forced to shelter in the place of worship with the alleged stabber, a 16yearold boy.

‘‘It is a combustible situation, there’s no point in pretending that everything is as normal,’’ Mr Minns told Seven’s Sunrise yesterday

Police patrols had been enhanced, particularly in western Sydney and around religious institutions, for the remainder of the week, the premier said.

Threats were made against Lakemba Mosque, one of Australia’s largest Muslim places of worship, following the attack on the Christian church, which investigators said was religiously motivated.

The public is being urged to come together and act reasonably.

‘‘Take the heed from the civic and religious leaders of this state who are calling for calm and an absolute repudiation of all kinds of violence,’’ Mr Minns said.

The stabbing attack at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley left Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel and a priest hospitalised after a knifewielding teen struck during a livestreamed sermon.

It was declared an act of terrorism on Tuesday; however, the alleged attacker — a 16yearold with a history of kniferelated crime — is yet to be charged.

The Lebanese Muslim Association shared footage of Lakemba Mosque Imam Sheikh Yahya Safi condemning the attack on Tuesday.

‘‘This is against our religion, we don’t accept it in any way, and it is childish act,’’ he said in the video message.

The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils also condemned the stabbing as an atrocious act. The church stabbing has revived the debate over stricter knife laws, which Mr Minns said he was considering.