The attack in Sydney’s church where a bishop and priest were stabbed, on Monday has been labelled as a terrorist act. Significantly the attack came just two days after the mass stabbing at a busy shopping mall.
“We believe there are elements that are satisfied in terms of religious motivated extremism,” New South Wales state Police Commissioner Karen Webb said during a press conference. “After consideration of all the material, I declared that it was a terrorist incident.”
Four people got injured in the attack including Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel of the Assyrian Christ, the Good Shephard Church, during a service live streamed at the western Sydney suburb of Wakely on Monday.
The incident resulted in clashes outside the church between police and a crowd of people, presumably the bishop’s followers who wanted that the attacker be handed over to them.
The Police added that there was a degree of premeditation as the male attacker travelled to the church, far from his hone, with a knife. But Webb said police at this early stage of investigation believe the attacker was acting alone.
After the clash outside the church at-least 30 people were attended to and seven of them were taken to the hospital for injuries. Police were also injured in the clash and almost 20 police vehicles were damaged.
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