NewsBite

Video

Pennsylvania church attack’s eerie similarity to Wakeley stabbing

Shocking vision has emerged of a gunman aiming a weapon at a pastor delivering a live-streamed sermon, in scenes similar to the stabbing of a bishop at a church in Sydney’s west last month. Watch the video.

Another shocking attempt at murder of a pastor during sermon in church

Shocking vision has emerged from the US showing a gunman aiming a gun at a pastor delivering a sermon via live stream, with the scene drawing eerie similarities to the Wakeley church stabbing last month.

The vision depicts Pastor Glenn Germany delivering a sermon at Pennsylvania’s Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church on Sunday before a man walked to the front of the pews and pulled a gun on him.

It’s understood the gun failed to discharge and the alleged gunman — 26-year-old Bernard Polite — was tackled to the ground by the church’s deacon and later charged.

The New York Post reported the pastor told another news outlet WPXI: “He pulled the gun; it clicked,” he said. 

A man walks to the front of the church and aims a gun at the pastor. Picture: screengra - watch the vision above.
A man walks to the front of the church and aims a gun at the pastor. Picture: screengra - watch the vision above.
The Pennsylvania incident has similarities to the attack on a bishop and priest at Wakeley’s Christ The Good Shepherd Church last month.
The Pennsylvania incident has similarities to the attack on a bishop and priest at Wakeley’s Christ The Good Shepherd Church last month.

Pastor Germany claimed the gunman was smiling at him before he brandished the weapon. 

“He stood up and he smiled at me. And it was just a smile,” Mr Germany said to WPXI. 

“He comes to right here and then all of a sudden, that’s when I see him pull the gun and all I could do is duck and try to get out of the way.”

The pastor manages to duck for cover. Picture: Supplied
The pastor manages to duck for cover. Picture: Supplied
The church deacon tackled the gunman to the ground.
The church deacon tackled the gunman to the ground.
The pastor and bystander disarm the gunman. Picture: Supplied
The pastor and bystander disarm the gunman. Picture: Supplied

Parishioners jumped in to subdue the attacker before police arrived.

A teenage attacker at the church in Sydney attacks Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel.
A teenage attacker at the church in Sydney attacks Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel.
The bishop was stabbed several times.
The bishop was stabbed several times.

An angry mob of thousands gathered out the front a short time after the attack, injuring police and destroying police cars just two days after the city was rocked by a knife massacre at Bondi Junction.

Police arrested the teen at the scene but were forced to barricade themselves inside the church for several hours “for his safety” after an estimated 2000 people descended on the church demanding retribution.

The morning after NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb declared the stabbing a terror attack that was religiously motivated.

Do you have a story for The Daily Telegraph? Message 0481 056 618 or email tips@dailytelegraph.com.au

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/pennsylvania-church-attacks-eerie-similarity-to-wakeley-stabbing/news-story/f6aa8c53c0001f0f475fb36916d0b66b