Sydney church stabbing: crowds clash with police after bishop allegedly stabbed during mass

Police said later that they had arrested a 15-year-old at the scene and were forced to hold him at the church for his own safety

Security officers stand guard outside Orthodox Assyrian church in Sydney, Australia on Monday. Picture: AP Photo/Mark Baker

Hundreds of people reportedly clashed with police in south-west Sydney on Monday night after a prominent Orthodox Christian leader was allegedly stabbed at the altar of his church.

Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was saying mass at the Assyrian Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley just after 7pm when a person approached him at the altar and allegedly stabbed toward his head multiple times. Three worshippers were also injured in the alleged attack.