Claims alleged terrorist teen was mentally ‘poisoned’ before Wakeley church stabbing

An alleged teenage terrorist had been mentally “poisoned” about religion in the lead up to stabbing a bishop at a church in Sydney’s west, according to those who prayed with him. The incident led to violent riots.

The teenager charged over the Sydney church terror attack had been mentally “poisoned” about religion in the lead up to the horrific incident, according to those who prayed with him.

In an audio message on WhatsApp in the hours after the attack on Assyrian Christian leader Mar Mari Emmanuel on Monday, a man claiming to know the attacker said earlier that day he had been praying with the teen who had been “poisoned by a monster”.

“Sadly, sadly, sadly, that kid we prayed Dhuhr (prayer) with today,” the man said.“These kids have been poisoned by a monster ... this kid has been poisoned.”

The man then identifies the alleged teenager, who is understood to be Islamic, attacker by name in the audio.
Video from inside the church as he was being detained by police showed the teenager telling angry churchgoers that the Bishop swore at his prophet.

The teenager being transported in an armoured police vehicle on Monday. Picture: TNV

He speaks in Arabic to those standing over him, with sources saying what he says roughly translates to: “If he didn’t swear at my Prophet I wouldn’t be here. If he didn’t involve himself in my religion I wouldn’t be here”.

These comments and the alleged attacker’s history are understood to be part of the reason Police Commissioner Karen Webb declared the incident a terror attack.

Both state and federal police sources said they believe it is unlikely the teenager targeted Bishop Mar Mari of his own accord.

Investigators are now understood to be looking at whether he was encouraged to carry out the attack, and if so by who.

They said Monday night’s attack had similar hallmarks to the shooting of NSW Police accountant Curtis Cheng in 2015 by a 15-year-old boy who had been influenced by ideology.

The investigation into the terror attack will be led by the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team, along with the Australian Federal Police, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and the NSW Crime Commission.

The 16-year-old boy being restrained at the church. Picture: Twitter

Specialist police yesterday raided a home in Sydney’s west which they believe is linked to the teenager.

Investigators from the JCTT operation remained at the home throughout much of the day yesterday.
At times, officers were seen carrying brown paper bags of evidence out of the home.

A man and a woman wearing face masks and covering their eyes with their hands were escorted out of the property by detectives in the mid-afternoon.

Blurred footage of the incident. Picture: Twitter

The couple, a man and woman, declined to speak to the media standing outside the property and swiftly drove off in a white car.

The woman raised her arm up to her fface and held tissues in her hands as she cried and sat down in the passenger seat of the car.

Relatives of the couple arrived at the property after “hearing the news”.

“The mother is my cousin,” he said.

“We came but it looks like no one is home. We’re not close cousins though.”

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