In Sydney, a terrorist attack against an Assyrian bishop

A 15-year-old individual allegedly carried out a knife attack in the Christ The Good Shepherd Assyrian Church, in Sydney (Australia), this Monday, April 15, 2024. The death toll rose to 4 injured, including the local bishop.

After a knife attack on April 13, 2024, in Bundi Junction (east of Sydney), killing 6 people in a shopping center, a new attack took place this Monday. This time at Christ The Good Shepherd Assyrian Church in the western Sydney suburb of Wakeley. Four men were stabbed, including Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel and a priest. For the moment, no motive for the attack has been identified, even if the authorities are already speaking of “terrorist act» extremist.

An attack broadcast live

According to a live broadcast on social networks, a man dressed all in black approached the altar during a mass, and attacked the bishop preaching the service. The perpetrator raised his right arm and stabbed the prelate, causing panic among the faithful. Before a number of people rushed to help and subdue the attacker. In total, four men aged 20 to 70 were injured and treated by emergency services. “The injured people suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were treated (…) before being transferred to hospital », indicated the local police. Just like the 15-year-old suspect, injured in the hand during his arrest. The state of health of Mar Mari Emmanuel, stabbed in the head and chest, is now stable and “improves ”, according to Christ The Good Shepherd Church.

“A terrorist act” of an extremist nature

At this time, Australian police consider it likely that the attack was a “terrorist act» of an extremist nature. “The elements that influenced my decision to declare this terrorist incident ,explains Karen Webb, Police Commissioner of New South Wales, are the actions of the individual who we believe went to church with a knife (…). We believe there are elements that meet the criteria for religious extremism.“. The bishop of this branch of Eastern Christians is known on the web for his numerous ultraconservative sermons with anti-vax and anti-LGBT overtones.

An explosive situation

The attack having been broadcast live, while the liturgical service was taking place, caused discord among the Assyrians of Sydney, many of whom fled persecution in Iraq and Syria. Around 7:10 p.m. local time, the police said they had received numerous calls, but several hundred faithful and admirers of the prelate ready to fight joined the church after the incident to find the attacker. At least two police officers were hospitalized and vehicles were damaged by rioters who shouted “bottles, bricks and other objects”, according to local authorities.

The political authorities called for calm during the night from Monday to Tuesday. In a joint statement with Muslims and Christians, Chris Minns, the head of government of New South Wales, the Australian state of which Sydney is the capital, calls “everyone to act with kindness and respect for others“. “It's time to show that we are strong and united», he concludes.