Alleged teen terrorist’s disturbing knife history before Christian priest was stabbed in haunting livestream
New details have emerged which paints a disturbing picture of alleged teenage terrorist who police say repeatedly stabbed a Sydney bishop.
An alleged teenage terrorist who police say repeatedly stabbed a Sydney bishop in a horrifying attack that was live-streamed on YouTube has been on a good behavior bond for knife-related crimes.
Sky News and the ABC both report the 15-year-old had been on bail facing several offences, including possessing a flick knife, stalking and property damage, until facing court in January.
The crimes were proven but dismissed in favour of a good behaviour bond, which remained active when he allegedly stabbed Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel at the Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley the city’s west at 7.10pm last night.
Police described the alleged attack as a “terrorist act”.
Cops vow to track down rioting Aussies
Meanwhile, furious police have vowed to track down every “un-Australian” thug who attacked officers while they responded to the alleged terror attack, in scenes that rocked the nation.
Two separate task forces have been established after a 16-year-old male allegedly stabbed Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel at the Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley the city’s west at 7.10pm last night.
One will probe the recent background of the alleged attacker, who was captured on a livestream of the bishop’s sermon shouting “Allahu Akbar” as he stabbed the bishop in the head, neck and torso at least eight times.
The bishop and priest Father Isaac Royel, who was also stabbed, remain in hospital in a stable condition.
The other task force will work to identify and prosecute those who among a 2000-strong rioting mob attacked and injured a number of officers, damaging at least 45 police vehicles, and terrorising responding paramedics.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw said the violent actions, which included bricks and rocks being thrown at first responders, were “un-Australian”.
“It’s a disgraceful act from [members of] the community who attacked police at the scene,” Mr Kershaw said. “It was un-Australian.”
An angry NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said those involved can expect “a knock at the door”.
“We will find you and we will prosecute you,” Ms Webb vowed.
There were chants of, “bring him out!” as police and paramedics took shelter inside the church with the alleged offender for several hours.
Bricks, rocks, fence palings and other heavy items were pelted at responding officers and a number were injured, with about a dozen police cars damaged in the mayhem.
“The police officers, of which there were many, acted courageously to protect that community, witnesses, victims and the ambulance officers,” Ms Webb said.
“They went there to do their job last night and they were turned on.”
A witness to the riot, Dominic Cammareri, told The Daily Telegraph people were “calling for blood”.
“There was a great build-up of mayhem, it was crazy, total chaos,” Mr Cammareri told the newspaper.
“It is not acceptable to impede or injure police doing their duties or to damage police vehicles in a way we saw last night,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.
“People should not take the law into their own hands, but should allow our police and security agencies to do their job.”
What accused terrorist allegedly said
The teenager who allegedly attacked the bishop screamed “Allahu Akbar” after plunging a knife into his face, neck and torso at least eight times.
The incident has been declared a terrorist attack, with Ms Webb saying alleged elements of the teenager’s actions indicated “religiously motivated extremism”.
In addition to allegedly yelling “Allahu Akbar”, counter-terrorism authorities are also aware of other comments the male is accused of making, including a reference to the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
Vision of the terrifying incident shows the alleged attacker, wearing a block hoodie, calmly approach the bishop before lunging at him and stabbing him repeatedly.
People could be heard screaming as several men ran towards the teenager, tackling him to the ground, before the camera panned away and the live stream cut off.
Teen pinned to the ground
Separate vision circulating on social media shows the aftermath of the alleged attack, with several men holding the teenager face down on the ground.
By this point, a NSW Police officer had arrived on the scene and can be seen helping to retain the male.
A rough translation of the audio indicates the men asked the alleged attacker if his actions were religiously motivated.
There is some confusion about what the teen says in response as it seems he was speaking in broken Arabic. According to reports, he had recently converted to Islam.
However, at a press conference in Canberra today, ASIO Director General Mike Burgess said the intelligence agency was aware of alleged remarks made by the teen referring to the bishop having offended the prophet Muhammad.
In the video, one of the men holding him down strikes him in the back of the head and says in English: “While people are praying, you’re gonna do this? You’re gonna f***ing do this?”
The policeman pleads with the crowd to stop, saying: “Please, you’re gonna make it worse.”
The chilling vision shows the teen’s grinning face being revealed, prompting anger from one onlooker.
“You’re a f***ing idiot. Laughing? You’re a f***ing idiot. You’re gonna cop it. You’re gonna get …”
At this point, it appears someone off camera kicks at the alleged attacker, to which he replies in English: “You think that hurt, my brother? You think that hurt?”
Teen’s finger ‘cut off’
A still image circulating on social media of the male shows him handcuffed and sitting on a toilet, with his right hand bandaged.
News.com.au understands one of his fingers was severed – not deliberately by any of the parishioners, but during the scuffle, police believe.
Rumours had quickly spread through the crowd and on social media last night that vigilantes had “chopped off” some of his fingers.
He has undergone surgery at an undisclosed hospital.
A graphic image circulating on Telegram purporting to show four severed fingers is fake, news.com.au has confirmed.
Witnesses have indicated the alleged weapon was a flick blade knife and that the alleged attacker hadn’t opened it properly before striking.
Ms Webb confirmed police believe a flick blade was used.
When asked last night, NSW Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland confirmed the teen had sustained “quite severe” injuries.
“His injuries are quite severe in his hand, he’s fairly upset and fairly distraught.”
Alleged terrorist attack
Ms Webb met with counter-terrorism officials in the early hours of this morning for an hour, where the incident was declared as an alleged act of terrorism.
Speaking from Canberra, Mr Albanese said the National Security Committee met this morning to be briefed.
A joint counter-terrorism operation comprising NSW Police, ASIO and the Australian Federal Police is now investigating.
In another video circulating on social media, one of the men who helped to hold the teen down tells a female police officer that he “ran and grabbed him from behind and just pushed him down”.
“He kept saying: ‘Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar’,” he tells the officer.
While not commenting on specifics, Ms Webb said the teen had allegedly made religious comments during and after the attacker.
Chaos and mayhem outside
A furious mob of thousands of men descended on the church, with a riot breaking out and responding police struggling to restore order.
“The police officers, of which there were many, acted courageously to protect that community, witnesses, victims and the ambulance officers,” Ms Webb said.
“They went there to do their job last night and they were turned on.”
Paramedics responding to the attack were also threatened, authorities say, sparking outrage.
Mr Albanese said he was disturbed by the violent scenes that played out last night.
“There is no place for violence in our community. There is no place for violent extremism in our community. We are a peace-loving nation.”
Opposition leader Peter Dutton said it was clear the community was upset about the attack, but “to take it out on police is not acceptable”.
“It should be condemned,” Mr Dutton said. “There’s no place for violence against police officers, or anybody.”
Federal MP Dai Le, whose electorate takes in Wakeley, described the scenes as “chaotic”.
“It was too chaotic, and I think it was too emotional last night for the people who heard about what happened to the bishop,” Me Le told Sunrise.
Last night, Liverpool Hospital was placed in lockdown when another large crowd converged there.
Mr Albanese today said he wanted to assure Australians that authorities at all levels are working together.
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