Sydney was shaken by a new stabbing attack on Monday in which a priest and a member of the congregation were attacked by a knife-wielding man at a suburban church.
Bishop Marie Emmanuel was delivering a livestreamed sermon at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in the city’s west when a man dressed in black approached the altar and stabbed the Orthodox bishop multiple times. It is said that
Breaking news: stabbing at Sydney church this evening
*** WARNING – Face violent content
Bishop Mar Mari was just attacked while preaching live in Wakeley, Sydney (near Fairfield).
There is no information yet on the culprit or motive, but the worst is… pic.twitter.com/If5rFzrRxS
— Australian Jewish Association (@AustralianJA) April 15, 2024
Horrifying footage of the incident, which was broadcast live on the church’s YouTube page, shows Bishop Emmanuel looking up in surprise when his attacker suddenly rains blows on his face and head, news .com.au report.
Local media based in Sydney further stated:
The bishop rose to fame during the coronavirus pandemic after denouncing Sydney’s lockdown as “mass slavery”.
He also argued that vaccines are pointless because living a “normal” life increases immunity.
“Are we human beings? Because we are treated like animals,” Bishop Emanuel said in a 2021 sermon at the time.
“The government is encouraging people to get vaccinated and stay home. They’ve had enough.”
At least two other people were also stabbed in the ensuing scuffle, according to some reports. That claim has not yet been verified.
New South Wales (NSW) Police said they were responding to the incident, which happened just after 7pm.
Police are investigating after reports of a stabbing in Wakeley.
Officers from the Fairfield Police Area Command were called to the scene on Welcome Street in Wakely after reports of multiple people being stabbed.
Officers arrested the man and are assisting him.
— New South Wales Police (@nswpolice) April 15, 2024
As reported by Breitbart News, the attack occurred just 48 hours after six people were murdered by a crazed knife man at Westfield Mall in Bondi Junction.
Joel Couch, 40, stabbed five women and a male security guard to death and injured several others before being shot and killed by police.
There is no suggestion that the two events are related.
Further in the future
