(Scypre.com) – In a shocking event that has sent ripples throughout the Sydney community, a bishop and several congregants were viciously attacked during an evening sermon at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, Sydney. The incident, which occurred on Monday and was broadcast live over the internet, saw the assailant injure at least four individuals.
Authorities swiftly apprehended a suspect, whose motives remain unclear. He was taken to an undisclosed location by the police, who have launched a full investigation into the harrowing episode. Despite the chaos, police reassured the public that the injuries sustained were not life-threatening.
The violent outbreak prompted an immediate and tumultuous response from the community. Hundreds of people quickly amassed outside the church premises, resulting in clashes with law enforcement officials. The gathering escalated as attendees began hurling stones, bricks, and bottles, leading the police to deploy pepper spray in an attempt to control the crowd. Witnesses at the scene reported that the crowd demanded the assailant be brought forth from the church.
In the midst of this confrontation, the police confirmed that two of their officers suffered injuries. They continued to urge people to steer clear of the area to ensure safety and facilitate a smoother resolution to the tension.
This stabbing incident follows a tragic event just days prior, where six individuals lost their lives in a shopping mall attack in Sydney. Authorities have indicated that there appears to be no direct connection between these two violent acts.
The bishop targeted in the attack has been identified by local media as Mar Mari Emmanuel, a figure both revered and controversial within the Assyrian Orthodox Church community. Since his ordination in 2011, Bishop Emmanuel has cultivated a significant online following, with his sermons drawing millions of views. Despite his popularity, his career has been marked by contention, notably with the Assyrian Church from which he was reportedly suspended after defying church canons and establishing a separate congregation.
Bishop Emmanuel has also been a vocal critic of public health measures during the Covid-19 pandemic, famously criticizing lockdowns and expressing skepticism towards vaccinations, which he equated to slavery.
Father Isaac, another clergy member, was also injured in the attack. Both he and the bishop were transported to a local hospital for treatment. The church has issued a call for prayers and requested that individuals present at the site depart peacefully.
Local officials, including Mayor Frank Carbone, have appealed for calm amid the community’s profound distress. Mayor Carbone emphasized the importance of unity and reassurance, confirming the bishop’s stable condition following the incident.
The incident was captured on the church’s livestream. The footage showed a man in dark attire approaching the bishop and seemingly attacking him with a weapon that was not immediately identifiable. This led to other attendees intervening as the assembly erupted into screams of horror.
The men injured in the attack, ranging in age from 20 to 70, received prompt medical attention from NSW Ambulance paramedics. Meanwhile, two men, one in his 50s and another in his 30s, were reported by the Sydney Morning Herald to have been hospitalized with multiple lacerations. As a safety measure, the hospital’s emergency department was temporarily closed to the public.
The community of Wakeley, known as a sanctuary for Sydney’s small Christian Assyrian population, many of whom have fled conflict in Iraq and Syria, is now grappling with the aftermath of this unsettling episode.
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