Sydney church stabbing: Bishop attacked during sermon

A bishop and several others were stabbed during a sermon broadcast online in Sydney.

The incident happened on Monday evening at Christ The Good Shepherd Church, in the suburb of Wakeley.

Police responded to reports that a number of people had been stabbed, but said none of their injuries were life-threatening.

A man was arrested and taken to an undisclosed location, police said.

Following the attack, large crowds gathered outside the church, with unverified footage posted online appearing to show some attacking the building and emergency service vehicles.

Police said “a large police response was underway and the public was urged to avoid the area.”

The attacked bishop was identified by local media as Mar Mari Emmanuel. His identity was later confirmed by the Eastern Orthodox Church.

The church said in a statement that a priest, Father Isaac, was also injured. Both were taken to hospital.

“We ask for your prayers at this time,” the church said.

“We also ask anyone on Church premises to leave in peace,” the text adds.

Local mayor Frank Carbone was among those calling for calm.

“I understand that many in our community are truly distraught, but what is important is that I believe the bishop was taken to the hospital and is expected to be OK,” he said. he told Sky News Australia.

According to the AFP news agency, the area is a hub for Sydney’s small Assyrian Christian community, many of whom fled persecution and war in Iraq and Syria.

In livestreamed video of the sermon, a man dressed in dark clothing can be seen approaching the bishop before appearing to hit him with a weapon that was not immediately identified.

Several other people then try to intervene and screams of horror are heard.

“The injured suffered non-life-threatening injuries and are being treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics,” police said in a statement.

They would all be men aged between 20 and 70. The motive for the attack is unknown.

This stabbing attack comes a few days after six people were killed in a shopping center in the same city. The attacker was then shot dead by a police officer.

There is no suggestion that the two events are linked.