Bishop Stabbed at Sydney Church Forgives Attacker, Urges Community Calm

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A bishop stabbed at a Sydney church on Monday says he is "recovering quickly" and forgives his attacker. In an audio message, Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel urged community calm. Four people were injured in the livestreamed religious terror attack, according to police. It caused a riot outside The Good Shepherd Church, where bishop supporters were angry. Despite being injured, a 16-year-old boy was arrested but not charged. Authorities have repeatedly declined to reveal the boy's suspected beliefs. Australian Security Intelligence Organisation boss Mike Burgess said authorities were investigating videos of the suspect yelling in Arabic and referencing "the Prophet" earlier this week.

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Bishop Emmanuel says he forgives "whoever has done this act" in the four-minute video that the church posted on social media on Thursday.

"And I will always pray for you. And whoever sent you to do this, I forgive them as well in Jesus's mighty name," he said.

He added that he was "doing fine" and "there is no need to be worried or concerned".

To recall, At 7.10pm Monday, a 16-year-old boy stabbed Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel while preaching at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, according to a livestream.NSW Commissioner Karen Webb declared it a terrorist act at 1.35am, which Police Minister Yasmin Catley confirmed at 1.45am and contacted Premier Chris Minns at 2am.

Today, the 16 year-old boy has been charged with a terrorism offence following an investigation by the Joint Counter Terrorism Team Sydney into an alleged stabbing at a Sydney church.

The boy was interviewed by investigators from the Joint Counter Terrorism Team Sydney this afternoon, Thursday, April 18, 2024, at a medical facility. Following the interview, he was charged with committing a terrorist act under section 101.1 Criminal Code Act (Commonwealth) 1995, an offence that carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. He is scheduled to appear before a bedside court hearing tomorrow, Friday, April 19, 2024, after being denied bail. Members of the NSW Police Force, Australian Federal Police, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), and NSW Crime Commission make up the Joint Counter Terrorism Team Sydney.

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