Sydney church stabbing a 'terror attack', says Premier Chris Minns

An alleged stabbing spree at a church in Western Sydney overnight, which sparked riots as police attended, has been deemed an act of terror and is now the basis of "a major and serious criminal investigation", NSW Premier Chris Minns announced this morning.

Minns addressed reporters on Tuesday, announcing that at 1am NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb determined the alleged attack was "a terrorist act" and urged the public not to "take matters into their own hands". "I want to make something very, very clear — there's no such thing in Australia as taking the law into your own hands," Minns said.

"Firstly, you will be met by the full force of the law, if there's any attempt for tit-for-tat violence in Sydney over the coming days," he said. "Secondly, you are diverting police equipment, investigation power, as well as resources, away from the investigation of this crime."

The premier urged the public to "let the police do their jobs".

FOLLOW LIVE UPDATES ON SYDNEY CHURCH STABBING

Shocking social media footage emerges

On Monday night, shocking social media footage emerged of religious leader Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel allegedly being attacked at the Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley while delivering his sermon at about 7.10pm on Monday.

After the attack, in the suburb close to Cabramatta, a furious mob of around 2,000 people swarmed near the church with riots breaking out and police struggling to maintain order. While the situation on the ground this morning has stabilised, community leaders have urged the public to practise restraint.

Attack an act of 'religious extremism'

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the violent scenes overnight satisfied the definition of terrorism because it was deemed to be "religious motivated extremism" and included the intimidation of the public.

"By attending that church, whilst it was being live-streamed, intimidating not only the parishioners in attendance, but those parishioners watching online," she said.

The alleged teen attacker is 16 years of age. "We understand he's about 16 years of age. He's known to police. However, he has not been on any terror watch list," Webb said.

She added that police believe the attack was planned and premeditated.

"We will allege that there's a degree of premeditation on the basis this person has travelled to that location, which is not near his residential address, he has travelled with a knife, and subsequently the bishop and the priest have been stabbed, who are currently in surgery, as I understand it.

"They're lucky to be alive."

Asked what led police specifically to believe the attack was an act of terror, Webb pointed to comments the alleged offender said as he approached the bishop.

"I understand he made certain comments [about religion] as he was approaching the bishop," she said. "There's been other comments made. I took [those comments] into consideration in making that declaration at 1am this morning."

Director-General of Security of ASIO Mike Burgess said further attacks are at this stage not expected.

"Our job is to look at individuals connected with the attacker to assure ourselves there's no-one else in the community with similar intent," he said.

"At this stage, we have no indications of that. But it's prudent that we do this to determine there's no threats or immediate threats to security. At this time, we're not seeing that."

Terrorism declaration to give police extra powers

By deeming the attack as a terrorist act immediately, police allowed themselves to activate an array of wider powers, Webb explained.

"If there's a need to amend those powers, those powers will be sought," she said, while condemning the violence directed towards first responders "who were trying to help".

"Whilst police were responding to the incident at Wakeley to provide assistance to those injured, including the offender, people converged on that area and began to turn on police," she said.

"People used what was available to them in the area, including bricks, concrete, palings, to assault police and throw missiles at police and police vehicles."

A number of paramedics were also injured during the ordeal, with reports some were held hostage by enraged rioters.

Many were taken to hospital overnight and 20 police vehicles were damaged, with 10 now unusable, Webb said. "This is unacceptable," she said.

"Those that were involved in that riot can expect a knock at the door. It might not be today. It might not be tomorrow. But we'll find you and we'll come and arrest you."

At the moment, police believe the alleged teen attacked acted alone.

"We believe at this stage he was acting alone," Webb said. "However, as you can imagine, this is very early on. So at this stage that is our belief."

Fowler MP urges peace within community 'on edge'

Federal MP for Fowler Dai Le, who knows Bishop Mar Mari personally, said people are understandably "on edge" in the city.

"It was a shock, obviously shocking news. I was in the kitchen cooking when I got the message from some members of our community," Le said on ABC News Breakfast this morning.

"I have attended [his church], he's a wonderful human being, just to let you know. – a very great person. And I know that at least he is not critical," she added.

"It’s been very disturbing that … just out from the Bondi stabbing that killed six people... Obviously people are on edge, I can understand that. And last night it just - I think it just heightened people's nervousness."

Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson echoed Le's sentiment.

"There’s been a call overnight, I think from every religious leader in Sydney, jointly issuing a statement for calm, for cohesion, for the community to come together and obviously that’s important," she told ABC RN.

"I can understand that these kind of incidents make people feel distress. They make people uncomfortable. You know, these can be really tough times for a city like Sydney, which is normally so cohesive.

"It’s just worth reflecting on how important our first responders are in maintaining that and just calling for everyone in the community to really show some calm and let the police do their job."

Police arrest teen following alleged attack

Police last night arrested a 16-year-old boy in Sydney's southwest following the brutal alleged attack.

Police said the boy had serious hand injuries amid rumours his finger was cut off during the melee. Officers had to barricade themselves inside the church with the boy for several hours as the violence continued outside. A number of police officers were injured after being hurt during the unrest.

Police have said none of the injuries sustained by any of the four victims were life-threatening.

Crowds also formed at Liverpool Hospital after at least some of those injured at the church were taken there for treatment. It is understood the hospital went into lockdown as a result.

NSW Premier calls emergency meeting

Addressing the shocking incident, NSW Premier Chris Minns last night called for calm.

"This evening at 10:30pm I convened a meeting of faith leaders representing religious communities across Western Sydney," Minns said on X.

"All of the following community leaders endorsed and supported a unanimous condemnation of violence in any form, called for the community to follow first responder and police instructions and called for calm in the community.

"We’re calling on everyone to act with kindness and respect for each other. Now is the time to show that we are strong and united as a NSW community."

Teen recovers from surgery

In an update shared on Tuesday morning, police said the alleged offender is recovering in hospital after he underwent surgery for injuries sustained in the alleged attack.

The 16-year-old was removed from the churchand taken to hospital where he remains under police guard.

Local mayor: People 'rushed to protect' family

Fairfield City mayor Frank Carbone said he condemned the actions of community members who rioted against police but explained hundreds of people "rushed towards the church to protects their loved ones".

Two police officers were injured and a number of police vehicles sustained damage during the unrest that followed the stabbing.

A constable was hit with a metal object and sustained a twisted knee and a chipped tooth. Another constable sustained a broken jaw after he was hit with a brick and a fence paling.

"So many people rushed there to protect their family and their friends...and I think that created a bit of a tinderbox and a lot of emotions," Carbone told 2GB radio on Tuesday.

"We definitely condemn the actions against the police and we hope that all the police personnel that got injured are doing much better this morning."

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