2024 Wakeley church stabbing

2024 Wakeley church stabbing
Rioters on Welcome Street with police presence
Map indicating the location of the incident
Location	Christ The Good Shepherd Church, Wakeley, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Coordinates	33.8728°S 150.9062°E / -33.8728; 150.9062
Date	15 April 2024 7:15pm  – (Australian Eastern Standard Time, UTC+10:00)
Attack type	Mass stabbing
Weapon	Knife
Deaths	0
Injured	7 (including alleged perpetrator)
Motive	Islamic terrorism
Accused	Unnamed 16-year-old

On 15 April 2024, a terrorist attack took place in Wakeley, a western suburb of Sydney, Australia, when an assailant entered Christ The Good Shepherd Church and stabbed six people, including Assyrian Christian bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel. While no one was killed, it was the second mass stabbing in the city in three days, following the 2024 Bondi Junction stabbings.

Background

Wakeley hosts a small Assyrian Christian community, many of whom are refugees from Iraq and Syria. Originally from Iraq, Mar Mari Emmanuel was ordained as a bishop in 2011 but later broke away from the Ancient Church of the East due to theological differences and established his own Christian denomination.

He criticised other religions such as Islam, Judaism and liberal Christian denominations in his sermons. He was a prominent critic of lockdowns and vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia He espoused conservative stances on issues such as LGBT rights and sexuality. Clips from his live-streamed church services have been re-uploaded on social media and have amassed millions of views.

Events

The stabbings took place after 7:00 pm in the suburb of Wakeley, 34 kilometres (21 mi) south-west of the Sydney CBD. An assailant wearing a black jumper, entered Christ The Good Shepherd Church located on Welcome Street, reportedly shouted “Allahu Akbar”, and attacked six people with a knife, starting with the bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, whom he approached at the pulpit and then stabbed multiple times in the head and upper body.

The event occurred during a live-stream of Emmanuel preaching whom the congregation gathered around after he was stabbed. According to Charbel Saliba, Deputy Mayor of Fairfield, he witnessed the bishop putting his hand over the attacker immediately after having been stabbed by him, and saying "May the Lord Jesus Christ save you".

Aftermath

Casualties

Five people suffered non-life-threatening injuries, including a man in his 20s, a man in his 30s, a man in his 60s, a priest named Isaac Royel, and the bishop. Another man in his 50s who had multiple cuts and said to be in serious condition was taken to Liverpool Hospital, which was placed under a partial lockdown.

The alleged assailant was also treated for injuries to his hand, which were not intentionally caused by parishioners, but by the ensuing tussle. Rumours had promptly spread through the crowd outside and on social media that vigilantes had "chopped off" some of his fingers, which was untrue. During the events, 11 ambulances were sent to the church. The weapon was allegedly a switchblade, which is legally banned in Australia, but the attacker had not opened it fully before jabbing the weapon. NSW Premier Chris Minns confirmed with 2GB's Chris O'Keefe about the teen's severed fingers, but did not explain whether the teen severed his own fingers or if it was done to him.

Suspect and legal proceedings

A suspect was subsequently apprehended and taken into custody. The suspect, while not as yet named, was first reported to be 15 years old, later revised to 16. He was known to police but was not on a terrorism watch list and was not a parishioner of the church. He had previously been convicted in January 2024 for several weapons offences as well as stalking, intimidation and damaging property, but was later released on a good behavior bond by a court in Sydney. Footage showed the alleged attacker smiling while held to the floor by a police officer and after being apprehended by churchgoers. The assailant's identity was withheld due to juvenile laws in New South Wales.

Police stated that the stabbing was a "terrorist attack", and that there were "elements that are satisfied in terms of religious motivated extremism." The teenager allegedly screamed “Allahu Akbar” after thrusting a knife into the bishop's face, neck and torso around eight times, in addition to a remark about the Islamic prophet Muhammad. In a video released by one of the churchgoers, the teenager can be heard speaking Arabic, saying "if he didn't insult my prophet and religion, I wouldn't have come here". At a press conference in Canberra, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Director General Mike Burgess said that the intelligence agency was aware of alleged references made by the assailant pertaining to the bishop having insulted the prophet Muhammad. Commissioner of the New South Wales Police Force Karen Webb said police had spoken with the boy’s parents, but she could not provide specific details of that conversation.

A counter-terrorism task force was set up to investigate the attack, particularly on whether other persons were involved. The task force consisted of officials from the New South Wales Police Force, the Australian Federal Police, and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation.

Riots

More than 100 police personnel were deployed to the church. Large crowds estimated to be composed of about 500 people gathered outside the church and the hospital, where it seemed that the alleged attacker was being held. The crowd screamed "bring him out!" as police and paramedics remained inside the church with the alleged offender for a few hours. The crowds clashed with police and attacked police vehicles. Riot police used pepper spray on the tumultuous crowd outside the church. Police helicopters encircled the area, broadcasting the message: "All persons, please vacate the area immediately."

A total of 30 people were injured during the riots, of which seven were hospitalised. Several police officers were also injured. including one who suffered a broken jaw. Thirty police vehicles were damaged, ten of which were rendered unusable. Six paramedics were "holed up" inside the church for more than three hours due to the violence. Several houses were also broken into. Police operations ended before 1:00 am on 16 April. NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb vowed that the violent rioters involved will be "prosecuted". She also announced the formation of Strike Force Dribs to respond to the riot, as well as the implementation of additional patrols to help "community harmonisation."

Reactions

The Christ the Good Shepherd's administration requested prayers for the victims of the attack as well as the alleged perpetrator in accordance with Bishop Emmanuel and Father Isaac's wishes. It also called on those that had gathered at the church to "leave in peace".

Noting that Bishop Emmanuel prayed for his attacker after the attack, Councillor Steve Christou of the Cumberland City Council stated "It just shows the remarkable courage of a man and the forgiveness he has within him to pray for his alleged attacker."

The attack was condemned by other religious leaders, groups and organisations including the Australian National Imams Council and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry following a meeting with New South Wales Premier Chris Minns, who also expressed sympathies with victims and emergency services and called for calm.

Frank Carbone, the mayor of the City of Fairfield, said the attack and subsequent riot was "a very emotional situation", adding that the community was "very upset" over the incident.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack, saying that there was no place for "violence in our community" and "violent extremism". He also called on Australians to "unite, not divide, as a community, and as a country." Director General of Security of ASIO, Mike Burgess declared that Australia's terror threat level was "possible", which meant extremism was an existing danger.