‘Horrific’: Chaos after Bishop stabbed
Days after multiple people were stabbed and killed in Bondi, prominent Bishop Mar... more
View more related videos
WARNING: Graphic content
Riots have broken out in Sydney’s southwest after a prominent bishop and three other men were stabbed during a service.
Video, posted on social media, shows Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel allegedly being attacked at Wakeley’s Christ The Good Shepherd Church while delivering his sermon about 7.10pm Monday.
Police have arrested a man but struggled to control the chaos at the scene, with police vehicles attacked by an angry crowd.
NCA NewsWire understands crowds have also formed at Liverpool Hospital after those injured at the church were taken there for treatment.
It is understood the hospital has gone into lockdown as a result.
The man arrested has been taken to an “undisclosed location”, police said, and the public has been urged to avoid the area.
In a statement, police said officers were continuing to “work on restoring order”.
A prominent bishop has been stabbed while delivering a service, which was being livestreamed online. Picture: Twitter
A prominent bishop has been stabbed while delivering a service, which was being livestreamed online. Picture: Twitter
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was helped by churchgoers after the alleged attack. Picture: Twitter
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was helped by churchgoers after the alleged attack. Picture: Twitter
Police taped off the entrance to the emergency department at Liverpool Hospital. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jonathan Ng
Police taped off the entrance to the emergency department at Liverpool Hospital. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jonathan Ng
Loaded: 0%
Riots erupt after bishop stabbed
Police have arrested a man but struggled to control...
See more
View more related videos
In one video posted to social media, a large crowd appears to be rioting at the scene, with property damaged.
Some footage shows dozens of people bashing ambulance windows as onlookers film some conflict in the background.
“He’s a f**king dog,” one man can be heard saying.
Another video shows the injured bishop appearing to cover part of his face, with a woman telling the person filming to stop using their camera.
Violence has erupted in Sydney’s southwest with an angry mob of about 2000 people surrounding a church and attacking police. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer
Violence has erupted in Sydney’s southwest with an angry mob of about 2000 people surrounding a church and attacking police. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer
Police raced to the scene after the stabbing. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer
Police raced to the scene after the stabbing. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer
Police say none of the injuries sustained by the bishop or the three other people are life-threatening.
Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone said the alleged attack was “horrific” and he understood people were “distraught”, but he also called for calm.
“I understand that many people are upset, and justifiably so,” he told Sky News.
“Obviously it’s terrible.
“I feel for everybody that witnessed that (stabbing) but I do call for calm.
“The police will do their job and please let’s not make the police’s job any harder.”
Angry crowds gathered in southwestern Sydney following the stabbing attack.
Angry crowds gathered in southwestern Sydney following the stabbing attack.
Officers were seen outside Liverpool Hospital. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jonathan Ng,
Officers were seen outside Liverpool Hospital. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jonathan Ng,
Premier Chris Minns described the scene as “disturbing”.
“I have received a briefing from the Commissioner of Police and NSW Health on the situation,” he said in a statement.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and first responders who are working to keep us safe.
“It’s important that the community remain calm and continue to listen and act to the directions of police and emergency services.
“We are a strong community in NSW and it’s important that we all stick together, particularly in the face of adversity.”
Police say they are working to restore order. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer
Police say they are working to restore order. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer
Confronting footage of the alleged attack shows the bishop speaking when a younger man dressed in black calmly walks up to him.
The bishop looks at the man, who then makes a stabbing motion to the face and neck area.
The bishop then falls to the ground.
Screams are heard from the crowd, as several people rush forward to try to help.
The camera then pans away.
The footage was taken from a livestream from the church’s YouTube page.
Dozens of police raced to the church where an angry crowd gathered and further violence erupted.
Liverpool Hospital was put into lockdown on Monday night. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jonathan Ng,
Liverpool Hospital was put into lockdown on Monday night. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jonathan Ng,
A NSW Ambulance spokesman told NCA NewsWire a man aged in his 50s was taken to Liverpool Hospital with multiple stab wounds.
Three other people were also injured — a man aged in his 30s suffered multiple lacerations, a man in his 20s received a cut to his hand, and a man in his 60s was wounded to his arm.
In a statement, NSW Police said an operation was underway at the church in Wakeley, following reports of a stabbing.
“Officers attached to Fairfield City Police Area Command, supported by multiple police resources from a number of commands and specialist units, attended,” police said.
Four people were injured in the shocking attack. Picture: Twitter
Four people were injured in the shocking attack. Picture: Twitter
“A male was arrested and remains in police custody.
“The injured individuals suffered non-life threatening injuries and were treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being conveyed to hospital.
“A large police response is underway and the public is urged to avoid the area.
“More information will be provided once it becomes available.”
The attack on the bishop comes just three days after six people were killed during a stabbing massacre at Sydney’s Bondi Westfield Shopping Centre.
There is nothing to suggest the two events are linked.
Multiple people rushed to help after the bishop was stabbed. Picture: Twitter
Multiple people rushed to help after the bishop was stabbed. Picture: Twitter
The bishop gained prominence during the Covid-19 pandemic after describing Sydney’s lockdown as “mass slavery”.
He also claimed vaccines were futile because living “normally” would boost immunity.
“Are we humans? Because we are being treated like animals,” Bishop Emmanuel said in a sermon in 2021.
“They are encouraging people to go and take a vaccine and stay at home. They have had enough.”
He has a large following on social media, including TikTok and Facebook.
Read related topics: