Boy, 16, faces terrorism charges over Sydney church stabbings

Police in Australia have charged a 16-year-old boy alleged to have stabbed a bishop and priest at a western Sydney church with a terrorism offence. He was due to face a hospital bedside hearing of the Parramatta children’s court yesterday. He is still recovering from surgery after his finger was severed during the alleged attack on Monday night.

On Thursday night police announced the teenager had been charged and that he had been refused bail. They said on Thursday afternoon counter-terrorism investigators “attended a medical facility to interview the boy, before he was charged with committing a terrorist act … an offence which carries a maximum penalty of imprisonment for life”.

Earlier on Thursday the first person arrested and charged for taking part in a riot that broke out in the aftermath of the alleged stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, 53, at the Assyrian Christ the Good Shepherd church appeared at court.

Dani Mansour, 19, was charged with riot, affray and destroying or damaging property as part of the crowd who allegedly attacked police on Monday night. A 39-yearold priest was also allegedly stabbed by Mansour after trying to intervene, according to police. He and the bishop were expected to recover after undergoing surgery.

The church released an audio statement on Thursday from Emmanuel in which the bishop, speaking from his hospital bed, said he was recovering well and that he was praying for his alleged attacker.

Emmanuel, who has a popular online presence, has previously criticised Islam and the prophet Muhammad in public sermons.