Arrests over knife attack on Australian bishop

NOS News•today, 11:18

Australian police arrested seven people in a major anti-terrorist operation this morning. They are said to be involved in the knife attack on an Assyrian bishop in Sydney more than a week ago.

All suspects are minors and know each other, the police announced. They are said to adhere to a “religiously motivated extremist ideology”. The police raided homes near Sydney with 400 officers in thirteen locations.

Last week, Bishop Mari Emmanuel was attacked with a knife during a service, also wounding five others. The attack was seen on a livestream from the service.

According to police, the attack was the work of a 16-year-old boy. He was known to the police. Police consider the attack an act of terror.

The boy was overpowered and arrested on the spot. He is still in custody and faces a life sentence. According to his lawyer, the boy suffers from a mental illness.

In addition to the terror suspects, a number of people were also arrested who were involved in riots that occurred after the stabbing. Hundreds of people gathered at the place of worship. Stones and other items were thrown at the police, injuring a number of officers. Today it was announced that a number of suspects have been arrested for this.

Videos of the attack are still online. Australia’s media watchdog had sued messaging platform X to have the images removed. But Emmanuel wants them to remain visible online, without giving a reason for this. The bishop previously said that he had forgiven the perpetrator.