Wakeley riots: Aiden Hanna charged with aggravated break and enter in company and riot

A barber accused of attempting to break down the main door of an Assyrian Orthodox Church where a violent riot erupted after a bishop was stabbed has been granted bail.

Forensic officers collecting evidence at the Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley after the terror attack and riot last night. Picture: Jonathan Ng

A barber accused of attempting to break down the main door of an Assyrian Orthodox Church where a violent riot erupted after a bishop was stabbed has been granted bail.

Aiden Hanna, 26, was arrested at a shopping centre in Casula on Wednesday over his alleged role in the riot which saw police injured outside Christ the Good Shepherd church in Wakeley on April 15.

Several attendees including Father Isaac Royel were also injured inside the church on the night and paramedics were forced to lockdown inside the building.

Hanna appeared at Liverpool Local Court on Thursday via audio visual link for charges of aggravated break and enter in company and riot as three supporters, including his brother and father, gathered in the courtroom.

Forensic officers collecting evidence at the Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley after the terror attack and riot last night. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Hanna’s lawyer said his client “didn’t throw any projectiles … he didn’t hurt anybody” and wouldn’t pose a danger to the community if released.

“He has attempted to break down the main door of the church on many occasions which was captured on CCTV,” he said.

He said police were charging his client – who had no criminal record – based on “intent” as despite his efforts the “door did not break” and argued the second charge of riot was a “back up”.

“An allegation at some point he had his hand up recording a riot … in my defence does not make an offence,” he said.

The police prosecutor opposed bail as the prosecution had a “strong case” due to a combination of “CCTV and circumstantial evidence” and said, if found guilty, Hanna would likely serve full time imprisonment.

Forensic officers collecting evidence at the Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley after the terror attack and riot last night. Picture: Jonathan Ng

He further argued Hanna’s limited criminal history wouldn’t guarantee he would comply with imposed bail conditions.

“An individual who allegedly commits these acts at a place of worship shows he has a lack of reverence for a place of worship, so what reverence would he have for a court that grants him bail,” the prosecutor said.

Hanna’s lawyer said since the incident at Wakeley, his client made “no attempts” to leave the country or move residence despite the media attention surrounding the night in question.

He proposed strict bail conditions, including not entering the Good Shepherd Church and not leaving his home between 9pm and 6am, which would “mitigate bail concerns”.

Around 2000 people congregated at Christ The Good Shepherd Church where Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was stabbed multiple times. Photo: TNV

Magistrate Imad Abdul-Karim said though Hanna was young and this was his first time in custody, the offending cannot be said to be “trivial”.

“​ (Hanna) has spent overnight in custody and that has given him a taste of the serious nature of what is alleged,” Mr Abdul-Karim said.

Hanna was granted bail on the conditions he surrender his passport, not leave his home between 10pm to 6am, not contact any prosecution witness and not enter the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley. The matter was adjourned to September 5 at Parramatta Local Court.