Man arrested after multiple people stabbed at church in Sydney

Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was saying mass at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley when a man lunged at him

Security officers stand guard outside a church where a bishop and churchgoers were reportedly stabbed in Sydney Australia, Monday, April 15, 2024. Picture: AP Photo/Mark Baker

A prominent Christian leader has allegedly been stabbed at the altar during a mass in south-west Sydney.

Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was saying mass at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley just after 7pm when a man approached him at the altar and allegedly stabbed toward his head multiple times.

Three worshippers were also injured in the alleged attack.

A live stream of the mass shows the congregation swarm forward toward Emmanuel before it was cut off.

The church leader gained prominence during the Covid pandemic, amassing a large online following, A police operation is under way in Wakeley, after reports of a stabbing.

Officers attached to Fairfield police area command attended the church on Welcome Street, Wakeley and a man was arrested and taken into custody.

However, there were reports that a large crowd of several hundred people gathered outside the church clashed with police as they protested about the stabbing.

“A large police response is underway,” NSW Police said on Monday night. “Multiple police resources from a number of commands and specialist units attended.”

The injured people suffered non-life threatening injuries and are being treated by NSW ambulance paramedics.

NSW Ambulance said they were called to the church about 7.15pm and sent multiple paramedics to the scene.

A spokesman said they had treated a man in his 50s for multiple cuts before taking him to Liverpool Hospital.

A man his 30s was also treated for lacerations and taken to hospital.

A man in his 20s was being treated for a cut to his hand and a man in his 60s treated for a laceration to his arm at the scene.

NSW Police urged people to avoid the area while state premier Chris Minns also urged the community remain calm.

“Disturbing scenes tonight in Wakeley tonight,” he said in a post to X. “My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and first responders who are working to keep us safe.”

 “It’s important that the community remain calm and continue to listen and act to the directions of Police and Emergency Services.”

The stabbing is the second of its kind to hit the Sydney area in recent days.

A man places flowers as a tribute near a crime scene at Bondi Junction in Sydney, Monday, April 15, 2024, after several people were stabbed to death at a shopping on April 13. Picture: AP Photo/Mark Baker

It comes after a knife attacker killed six people and injured several others in a stabbing spree at a Sydney shopping centre before being shot dead by police on Saturday.

The 40-year-old suspect entered the Westfield shopping centre at Bondi Junction at around 3.10pm local time (6.10am Irish time) and then left “very shortly after” before returning at about 3.20pm.

The man stabbed shoppers as he moved through the shopping centre – including a mother and her nine-month-old baby.

Police have said they will be investigating whether the Sydney shopping centre attacker intentionally targeted women.

 - The Guardian