A bishop and several worshippers have been attacked in another mass stabbing in Sydney.
Footage shows the moment that Bishop Mari Emmanuel was preaching at The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley in Sydney's west on Monday evening when a knifeman walked up to the altar and stabbed him multiple times.
Reports on social media claimed that people in the congregation were holding him down and he then barricaded himself inside the church before later being arrested.
A video broadcast live on the church's YouTube page, shows the bishop looking up in shock as the man suddenly starts striking him with the knife. He appeared to be stabbed in the face and the head in the horrifying incident.
The alleged attacker looked calm and slowly walked up to the altar before suddenly unleashing the brutal attack with people from the congregation then rushing to try and stop him. There are also reports that at least three others were also stabbed in the incident while police have said that victims were being treated for "non-life threatening injuries".
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The bishop was preaching in the church when he was attacked (X)Fairfield deputy mayor Charbel Saliba says after being stabbed, Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel got up, put his hand on the attacker and started praying, reported 6 News Australia.
One person wrote on X: "It’s with great sadness I post this. Bishop Mari Mari Emmanuel of Sydney's Christ the Good Shepherd Church has been stabbed multiple times. I frequently post him on my Bible page. He was doing his normal live stream and while he was saying mass he was attacked. I have no other info at this time. Please say a prayer for his recovery. Again, please."
A man could be seen approaching the altar before the frenzied knifing (X)There were chaotic scenes outside the church following the incident while the alleged attacker was arrested. It is believed around 5,000 people gathered outside as they protested about the attack, and they were heard chanting: "Bring him out."
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said his thoughts and prayers were with the victims and called on the community to "stick together". He wrote on X: "Disturbing scenes tonight in Wakeley tonight. I have received a briefing from the Commissioner of Police and NSW Health on the situation. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and first responders who are working to keep us safe.
"It’s important that the community remain calm and continue to listen and act to the directions of Police and Emergency Services. We are a strong community in NSW and it’s important that we all stick together, particularly in the face of adversity."
New South Wales police guard the perimeter of the Christ the Good Shepherd Church (AFP via Getty Images)Frank Carbone, Mayor of Fairfield, told Sky he believed the bishop would be okay after being taken to hospital. He said: "Bishops and priests, they’re very very important in our community. They only preach love and peace and to have this happen to one of them is horrific. However, I understand a lot of members in our community are really distraught but what is important is, I believe, that the bishop has been taken to hospital and should be okay."
There have also been reports of rioting in suburb of Fairfield following the incident and the mayor has appealed for calm. He said: "I do call for calm. Police will do their job and please let’s not make the police’s job any harder. We live in difficult times right now... so I can understand frustration and the anger from the communities but I ask them, as the mayor, just to please be calm."
Around 5,000 people are believed to have gathered outside the church (AFP via Getty Images)The Australian Jewish Association wrote on X: "Bishop Mar Mari was just attacked during live stream in Wakeley, Sydney (near Fairfield) while delivering his sermon. No information yet on the perpetrator or motive, but the worst is feared."
The church website said Mar Mari Emmanuel was ordained a priest in 2009 and then a Bishop in 2011. He has a large following of more than 17,000 on Facebook while the Good Shepherd Church has nearly 200,000 subscribers on YouTube.
Bishop Mari Emmanuel was preaching in church when he was attacked (X)New South Wales Police said an operation is underway in Wakeley after reports of the stabbing. The force stated: "Officers attached to Fairfield City Police Area Command attended a location on Welcome Street, Wakeley, following reports a number of people were stabbed."
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The force said officers have arrested a male and he is helping police with their inquiries. NSW Police added: "The injured people suffered non-life threatening injuries and are being treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics. The community is urged to avoid the area."
The attack was at The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, Sydney (X)It comes after six people were killed by knifeman Joe Cauchi in the Westfield shopping centre at Bondi Junction, in Sydney, on Saturday. New South Wales police commissioner Karen Webb said it is a “line of inquiry” that the Sydney shopping centre attacker “focused on women and avoided the men” during his stabbing spree with five of the six who died women.
Cauchi, 40, from Queensland, had suffered mental health issues since he was a teenager, his family said in a statement released through Queensland Police. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told ABC Radio the breakdown of the victims was “concerning”. Asked about any links between the attacker and misogynist networks, he said: “All of that investigation will take place, it will be comprehensive, and nothing will not be looked at in this matter.”
Mr Albanese confirmed in an interview with Triple M radio in Sydney that the final victim to be named was Yixuan Cheng, a Chinese student. Four other people died at the shopping centre, named as Dawn Singleton, the 25-year-old daughter of Australian businessman John Singleton, 47-year-old Jade Young, who worked as an architect in Sydney, 55-year-old Pikria Darchia and security guard Faraz Tahir.
Ashlee Good, 38, died in hospital from her wounds and her nine-month-old daughter Harriet has undergone surgery. NSW Health said she was in a serious but stable condition in Sydney Children’s Hospital with seven other injured people remaining in hospital on Monday. All are in stable condition, but one woman is described as serious but stable.
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