16-Year-Old Boy Charged With Terrorism Offence for Allegedly Stabbing Christian Bishop

The offence carries a maximum penalty of imprisonment for life. 

New South Wales police guard the perimeter of the Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Sydney's western suburb of Wakeley on April 15, 2024, after several people were stabbed in the church premises. Australian police arrested a man after several people were stabbed at a church in Sydney on April 15 and emergency services said four people were being treated for non-life threatening injuries. David Gray/Getty Images

Police have charged a 16-year-old boy with a Commonwealth offence of terrorism following an investigation into an alleged stabbing of an Assyrian bishop during a livestream service at a Western Sydney church.

The boy, suspected to have recently converted to Islam, has been refused bail and was expected to appear before a bedside court hearing on Friday, April 19.

The horror unfolded on Monday (April 8) when the boy attended an online sermon at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in the suburb of Wakeley, pulled out a knife, and repeatedly stabbed Christian bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel. Churchgoers screamed as some rushed to aid.

When police arrived at the scene, they found the bishop with significant injuries to his head. A 39-year-old parish priest, Isaac Royel, also sustained lacerations and a shoulder wound when he attempted to intervene.

Speaking to the media on April 19, Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the boy was charged “as a child” with committing a terrorist act. The offence carries a maximum penalty of imprisonment for life.

He also allegedly stabbed the bishop six times and had travelled for 90 minutes to attend the Christ The Good Shepherd church where he committed the crime.

“He will appear at a children’s court and it will be a matter before the court. We will not be able to provide many other details because it is before the court,” she said.

In a joint statement on April 19, the Joint Counter Terrorism Team Sydney said they had interviewed the teenager before making the charge.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw said the joint counterterrorism team conducted search warrants at the teenager’s home on April 16 and seized a number of items, including electronic devices.

“A terrorist act is defined under Commonwealth law. We allege that the act committed meets the definition for reasons outlined in a statement of facts, but I will not go into those facts here today,” he said.

“It has to be political, religious, or ideologically motivated, violent extremism. And it’s to further a cause.”

Ms. Webb also noted that the teenager had allegedly made comments “centred around religion” after footage of the incident showed the boy screaming the Islamic phrase “Allahu akbar,” meaning “God is greater” before he attacked the bishop.

Videos also showed that he said in Arabic what can be roughly translated as “I wouldn’t be here if you didn’t swear at my prophet.”

According to witnesses, the boy’s knife didn’t fully open when attacking the bishop and he “adjusted his knife to make sure it was fully opened.”

The teenager also injured his hands, including losing at least one finger, while committing the act.

Meanwhile, in his first public comments since the attack, Mr. Emmanuel said he forgave the attacker and urged his followers to refrain from retaliation.

In a four-minute audio posted on social media, the Iraqi-born bishop also issued a message to the Christian faithful, saying, “I need you to act Christ-like.”

“I say to him, you’re my son. I love you. And I will always pray for you and whoever sent you to do this, I forgive them as well,” he said.

“Whatever has happened to me personally, I thank the Lord Jesus, that’s a huge blessing for me.”

The attack triggered a riot outside the church, with angry rioters assaulting the police and vandalising police vehicles and the church building.

Dani Mansour, 19, was the first person involved in the incident who was arrested and charged with riot, affray, and destroying or damaging property.