Australian authorities have declared a recent knife attack at a church in western Sydney as a terrorist incident, likely motivated by religious extremism. The decision was made following the premeditated nature of the stabbing and religious remarks made by the attacker during the incident. The suspected attacker, a male teenager, was arrested at the scene, but police had to hold him at the church as a crowd gathered outside, clashing with law enforcement. The state’s Premier has called for calm as a major terrorism investigation is undertaken.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb stated that after reviewing all the evidence, the attack was deemed a terrorist incident. The Joint Counter Terrorism Investigation team will be working jointly with New South Wales Police on the case. It is believed that the stabbing was driven by elements of religiously motivated extremism. The Christ the Good Shepherd Church, where the incident occurred, issued a statement urging its followers not to engage in retaliation of any kind in response to the attack.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the violence, stating that there is no place for violent extremism in the community. He called for unity in the face of such incidents and emphasized the importance of following the law and not taking matters into one’s own hands. The U.S. Embassy in Australia issued an alert to American citizens in the country to remain vigilant and practice sound personal security amid the recent attacks. Despite this, the State Department’s travel advisory for Australia remains at Level 1.
The knife attack at the church took place during a sermon being delivered by Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, who was among the seven people injured in the incident. All victims are expected to survive. The attack was captured on camera as the church live streams all its sermons online. The incident occurred just days after another mass stabbing in Sydney, where six people were killed. Police have ruled out terrorist links in that incident, attributing it to mental health issues in the perpetrator, Joel Cauchi, who deliberately targeted women.
The situation surrounding the recent knife attacks in Sydney has raised concerns about safety and security in the community. The Australian authorities are taking the incidents seriously and actively investigating to ensure that such acts of violence are dealt with appropriately. As the investigation progresses, it is crucial for the public to remain calm and cooperate with law enforcement to prevent further acts of violence. The government is urging unity and peace in the face of these challenges, emphasizing the need for collective efforts to address the root causes of extremism and violence.
