Tension rises after sudden violent incident at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley
CANBERRA
Four people were stabbed in a livestreamed church service in Sydney, Australia on Monday, the police and local media reported.
The incident occurred at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, western Sydney at around 7.15 p.m. local time (0915GMT), Sky News reported.
Details of the attack have yet to be confirmed, but the offender, who is believed to have acted alone, is in police custody.
“Officers arrested a male and he is assisting police with inquiries,” said a statement from the New South Wales police.
The incident was livestreamed on the church’s Facebook account, showing a priest being stabbed multiple times by a young man before other churchgoers stepped in to overpower him.
The footage showed the attacker walking toward the priest, identified as H.G. Mar Mari Emmanuel, and suddenly attacking him, forcing him to fall to the ground.
Horrified worshippers could be heard screaming before the live feed was cut off.
Tensions rose after the shocking incident, with hundreds of people gathered outside the church.
According to Sky News, mass disorder broke out in the aftermath, with local Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone calling for calm.
“We live in difficult times right now … so I can understand frustration and the anger from the communities but I ask them as the mayor just to please be calm,” he was quoted as saying.
Footage on local broadcasters showed the priest being taken to an ambulance in a stretcher.
Carbone told reporters that he believed the bishop would be “okay.”
All four victims are being treated for lacerations, while a man in his fifties has been taken to Liverpool Hospital.
The injuries of the victims are not said to be life-threatening.
The violent attack in a place of worship took place just two days after a 40-year-old man killed six people and injured 12 more in a stabbing spree in a mall in Sydney.
