(DailyChive.com) – A brutal stabbing attack recently hit Sydney, Australia, at a suburban church. On April 15, a service held by Bishop Mari Emmanuel at Christ The Good Shepherd Church was disrupted by a knife-wielding man who attacked a priest and worshippers. The incident was captured by cameras that were being used to live-stream the service to digital viewers.
The 16-year-old assailant was seen lunging at the bishop with a knife, causing lacerations to his head.
The horrifying attack came only days after a similar knife attack took place at the Westfield Bondi Junction shopping center, taking six lives. Authorities confirmed that there appeared to be no apparent connection between the two incidents.
Parishioners attending the service came together to successfully subdue the attacker, who was later arrested by police officers. He is now being held under arrest at a nearby hospital. Reports suggest that the man sustained injuries while being accosted by parishioners and police officers.
The attack was officially declared a terrorist incident, and an investigation is currently underway led by the New South Wales Joint Counter Terrorism Team.
Following the attack, a crowd of roughly 2,000 people reportedly turned hostile, with threats being directed towards the paramedics who arrived on the scene to assist those who had been wounded. The mob-like behavior was criticized by New South Wales Health Minister Ryan Park, who described the scenes as “terrible” and “unacceptable.”
Local media reports also described how the paramedics, upon arriving, were forced to barricade themselves inside the church for several hours to avoid the mobs and crowds.
A statement was released by New South Wales Premier Chris Minns, in conjunction with religious leaders from all over the state, urging people to come together in peace and understanding.
As the investigation gets underway, some important details remain unclear, including the motive of the attack and the attacker’s religious convictions or motivations.
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