Following this and other evidence, the NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb declared that the stabbing yesterday of Christian Orthodox Assyrian Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was a terrorist motivated attack.
"At 1:35am this morning, after consideration of all the material, I declared that it was a terrorist incident. It is crucial that New South Wales police are able to devote their resources and intelligence as well as officers to the investigation of this crime." said Commissioner Webb.
The Attack
The attack happened on Monday night just after 7 pm at Wakeley’s Christ The Good Shepherd Church, where Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was performing Mass.
In a livestream of the liturgy Bishop Emmanuel can be seen speaking to the congregation before a man walks up to him and allegedly stabs him a number of times.
The young man dressed in all black can be seen approaching the altar where Bishop Emmanuel was standing before allegedly stabbing his face and body before people tried to stop him.
A Furious mob
Following news of the attack a furious mob of an estimated 2000 men from the Assyrian Orthodox community descended on the church, with a riot breaking out and responding police struggling to restore order.
Bricks, rocks, fence palings and other items were pelted at officers and a number were injured, with about a dozen police cars damaged in the mayhem.
Paramedics responding to the attack under threat and were forced to shelter inside the church for more than three hours.