Knock, knock!: Cops continue to smash down doors of Wakeley church rioters

Moments after they banged on his door as part of sweeping dawn raids, this man was in handcuffs – and police are making no apologies.

Strike Force Dribs was set up to investigate the 2,000-person Wakeley church riot on April 15. Picture: Thomas Lisson

With a large cross in the window and a religious statue in the yard, it might be the last house you would expect to be the target of an early morning police raid.

But as neighbours of George Boulos’s can confirm, masked and armed officers investigating the Wakeley church riot banging on the doors of his sprawling address provided an early wake up to the whole of his Picnic Point street at the crack of dawn on Monday.

Boulos was one of four further arrests by Strike Force Dribs investigators who continue to hunt for those responsible for the wild riot that followed the terror attack by a 16-year-old boy on Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel at Christ the Good Shepherd Church on April 15.

Police allege Boulos used a ladder to smash in a window of the church, in an effort to gain access to the teenager detained inside.

Moments after officers banged on his door on Monday, Boulos was in handcuffs and under arrest, with Strike Force Dribs Commander Andrew Evans making no apologies for their strong stance that has now resulted in 14 people charged in response to the riot.

Boulos opens the door to find heavily armed police outside his Picnic Point home. Picture: Thomas Lisson

“We will allege in court that he obtained a metal ladder after being asked a number of times to leave the area, and attempted to, along with other men, force their way into the church,” Superintendent Evans said.

“Certainly the indications of police on the night and from what I’ve seen in the body warn video, we will allege their intent was to seriously injure or kill the 16-year-old male that police had arrested inside for the stabbing.

“This particular male we will allege was involved with a ladder, but there were other males who obtained star pickets (and) pieces of wood, and they were actively trying to injure or kill that 16-year-old boy,” Superintendent Evans said.

“We will allege he had ample opportunity to leave and had been asked by police to leave, and he chose not to do that, rather he chose to be part of the mob and act in a violent and aggressive nature, totally against community standards.”

Boulos was charged with riot, aggravated break and enter with intent, throw missile at police officer and assault police officer, and faced Bankstown Local Court where he did not apply for bail. Picture: Thomas Lisson

Boulos is loaded into a NSW Police vehicle before being taken to Bankstown Police Station. Picture: Thomas Lisson

Boulos was charged with riot, aggravated break and enter with intent, throw missile at police officer and assault police officer, and faced Bankstown Local Court where he did not apply for bail.

After a night in police custody, he is due back in court on Tuesday.

Elsewhere raids were also carried out at the homes of Jouseph Yousif at Raby, Paul Yalda at Edensor Park and Ronald Odisho at Austral.

Yousif was charged with riot and hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty and Yalda was charged with riot, intimidate police officer during public disorder and aggravated break and enter, while Odisho was charged with breach of bail unrelated to the riots.

All three men were granted bail to reappear in court at later dates.

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