Accused Islamist terror teen ‘poisoned by monster’: social media radicalisation claim after Bishop Mar Mari, Wakeley stabbing

Community leaders and fellow young Muslims had grown ­increasingly concerned with the ‘extreme religious views’ of the 16-year-old alleged to have stabbed a bishop in Sydney.

The 16-year-old alleged to have stabbed Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, top right, an attack condemned by AFP commissioner Reece Kershaw, Anthony Albanese and ASIO boss Mike Burgess. Picture: Martin Ollman / NCA NewsWire

Community leaders and fellow young Muslims had grown ­increasingly concerned with the “extreme religious views” of the 16-year-old alleged to have stabbed an orthodox Assyrian bishop during a service in Sydney’s southwest, amid claims he had been radicalised online.

The teenager alleged to have stabbed Bishop Mar Mari ­Emmanuel and three others ­during a live-streamed service at Wakeley’s Christ the Good Shepherd Church on Monday remains in police custody.

The Australian understands concerns had grown among community members that the teenager had “spent too much time online”, particularly on radical content across social media un­aligned to mainstream Islamic views.

NSW police on Tuesday deemed the attack terror-related – the first since 2017 – and launched a joint counter-terrorism team to lead the investigation.

An audio message that had begun to widely circulate among Muslim community WhatsApp groups identified the 16-year-old, with a male voice lamenting the incident and how the teenager’s mind had been “poisoned”.

“Sadly, sadly that (alleged attacker) prayed today (with us) … These kids have been poisoned by a monster who has the radical Daesh mentality,” the audio message said.

“This kid has been poisoned,” the audio message continued. “This kid, as soon as I saw (the videos), it’s him. Keep calm, keep ­patient, inshallah.”

ASIO director-general Mike Burgess said the attack “appeared to be religiously motivated” and NSW Premier Chris Minns wouldn’t rule out knife-law ­reform, especially given Saturday’s separate attack in Bondi.

At the time of publication, the 16-year-old had not been charged with any offence and authorities had not confirmed his identity, ­religion or alleged motive.

The teenager sustained “severe injuries” to a hand and lost a finger, although this occurred during the “commission of the crime”, rather than someone doing it to him.

Sources from within Sydney’s Muslim community told The Australian that the teenager’s identity had become known on Tuesday, with many alleging the boy’s “very hard” religious views “did not comply with mainstream Islam”.

A handful of popular Islamic centres around Greenacre had gone so far as to warn him to stay away, given he would not tone down his views and “extreme ­remarks” after directives from leaders and concerns raised by ­fellow young Muslims.

A family friend of the teenager told The Australian, on condition of anonymity, that the boy’s ­parents were “in shock” following Monday’s stabbing.

The friend said the accused’s ­father, a taxi driver, was so stressed and shocked that he had been ­“losing consciousness” throughout the day.

The family – understood to be of Lebanese descent – appear to have hastily left the southwest Sydney home they have lived in for more than a decade.

“They’re very sorry, it was a complete shock, they’re very sad that it happened, they absolutely didn’t want this to happen,” the friend said, calling them “very good people” and “loving parents”.

“The family is extremely worried for their safety – they’re very concerned about what happened overnight.”

Neighbours said they seemed like a “nice, normal” family and that the father would go for a walk with his sons every night.

Another neighbour on Tuesday said the boy’s mother had ­travelled to Beirut last year ­because her brother was in hospital and later died.

“I’ve seen them (the boy’s ­family) around, they’re just a ­regular family,” another neighbour said.

Police returned to the street of the boy’s family home for the second time on Tuesday evening, conducting further doorknocks to obtain CCTV.

Monday’s incident came 48 hours after Saturday’s knifing attack that killed six – although unrelated and not religiously ­motivated – and the two incidents prompted Mr Minns to reveal he was considering strengthening knife laws. “Obviously, when ­people are being killed and you’ve got a situation where a knife is being used, then it would be irresponsible not to look at (reform),” the Premier said.

Four police officers were injured on Monday night. Picture: Liam Mendes

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said although the boy was known to police, he wasn’t known “from a terrorism point of view” nor was he on any “terror watchlist”.

“This is the first time this individual has come to our attention in this manner ... we’re taking it very seriously,” she said.

Ms Webb also told rioters who ­arrived at the church in their hundreds – many angry at the attack on the popular bishop – to “expect a knock at the door” and that a separate taskforce would investigate the ugly scenes.

Four people sustained lacerations during the alleged stabbing but were in a stable condition.

Four police officers were injured in the line of duty during the riot, one with a broken jaw.

The NSW Police Force’s joint counter-terrorism team, which will include federal counterparts, ASIO and the state crime commission, will lead an investigation into Monday’s stabbings after the commissioner’s terror declaration.

That designation will also afford the police the use of extraordinary powers as part of their investigation, including the ability to stop and search people, and demand the disclosure of identities, all without a warrant.

Chris Minns, centre, with NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb and Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan. Picture: Getty Images

Mr Minns said the terror designation was partly prompted by the teenager’s “history”, “rhetoric”, and “motives” in relation to the church, adding that the terrorism designation was “not a perform­ative gesture”.

“We’re not trying to judge one crime over another with this particular designation,” he said. “The reason it’s required is particular changes to the legislation to enhance police powers.”

Mr Minns met with officers from Fairfield Police Area Command on Tuesday afternoon as a chorus of calls for calm came from government, the NSW Police Force and faith leaders.

“It (the work of faith leaders) has been acknowledged as a big-hearted gesture to protect our communities and those who practise religion and to protect police,” Mr Minns told eight southwest Sydney religious leaders in a briefing where he thanked them for their work.

The Australian National Imams Council called the attacks “horrifying” and urged its community to “stay calm and work together”. That message was echoed by other leaders and organisations of the Islamic faith.

The NSW Faith Affairs Council, an advisory coalition of religious leaders to the state government, said all denominations “stood united against all forms of hate and violence”.