Sydney bishop among multiple people allegedly stabbed at church in Sydney’s south-west

A Sydney bishop is among multiple people stabbed during a church service in the city’s south-west on Monday night.

The attack occurred at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, with graphic video showing a man lunging at Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel with something in his hand during a mass that was being broadcast online.

NSW Ambulance said three other people were also stabbed.

NSW Police said a male was arrested at the scene and “he has been removed from the church and taken to an undisclosed location”.

They said those stabbed suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to hospital.

A large police response is underway, and the public is urged to avoid the area.

Vision from outside the church shows chaotic scenes with a large crowd of people.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said he has been briefed by the Police Commissioner and NSW Health about the situation.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and first responders who are working to keep us safe,” he said.

“We are a strong community in NSW and it’s important that we all stick together, particularly in the face of adversity.”

The incident comes two days after a man killed six people in a stabbing attack at Westfield Bondi Junction on Saturday afternoon.

Religious leaders express shock

Faith New South Wales CEO Murray Norman described the stabbing of Bishop Emmanuel as “horrific” and deeply shocking.

“Tonight, Bishop Emmanuel was stabbed, it’s a hideous thing, I can’t believe this can happen in Australia during a mass, it’s just horrible,” he told the ABC.

“I haven’t heard about his condition, but the faith communities are desperately grieving and praying for the bishop, it’s just horrible that this could happen after everything that’s happened this week.”

Jewish community leader Alex Ryvchin, from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry posted on X that he’s “horrified by the stabbing attack on a bishop at an Assyrian Church in Sydney”.

“I stand in complete solidarity with the beautiful Assyrian community and pray that the injured recover fully in body and soul.”

I. H. Kauser, the national president and Grand Imam of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Australia, expressed “profound sadness and shock”.

“The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Australia unequivocally condemns tonight’s attack on Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel in the strongest possible terms.

“We extend our deepest sympathy to all those injured in the attack and wish them a speedy and complete recovery.”

ABC