Tense scenes erupt as bishop and churchgoers allegedly stabbed during church service

Content Warning: This article mentions graphic descriptions of violent crime, including stabbing. Reader discretion is advised.

The tranquillity of a church service was shattered in a horrific turn of events at Wakeley’s Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Western Sydney, leaving the community in shock.

On Monday evening, 15 April, at approximately 7:10 pm, the solemnity of a live-streamed service was violently disrupted when a bishop and three congregants were allegedly stabbed in an attack that has since sent ripples of distress across the nation.



The service, which was broadcast on social media, captured the incident in which Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was approached by a young male dressed in black.

The assailant allegedly lunged at the bishop, stabbing him multiple times in the head and upper body, as screams echoed through the church and parishioners rushed to intervene.

The live feed abruptly ended.


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Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was allegedly stabbed during church service at Wakeley’s Christ The Good Shepherd Church. Credit: Christ The Good Shepherd Church / Facebook


Acting Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland reported that the congregation ‘apprehended the young male and held him down until the police arrived’.

The suspect, a teenager with a known history to police but not a regular attendee of the church, was arrested and is currently assisting with inquiries.

His identity has been withheld, and he is being held at an ‘undisclosed location’.

‘Police have initially spoken to the young person, (but) his injuries are quite severe, he’s fairly upset and distraught. He’s asked to speak to his parents, and we’re making arrangements for (him),’ Holland said.

Emergency services responded to the scene, where New South Wales Ambulance paramedics treated four individuals.

A man in his 50s was taken to Liverpool Hospital in serious condition with multiple lacerations.

Another man in his 30s also received hospital treatment for lacerations, while two others were treated for less severe injuries at the scene.



The aftermath of the attack saw an angry mob of hundreds gather at the church, leading to further chaos as riot police were deployed to disperse the crowd.

During the confrontation, two police officers sustained injuries—one with a twisted knee and chipped tooth, the other with a broken jaw—after being struck by a brick and a fence paling.

‘We are a little bit disappointed in the community themselves. They’ve thrown weapons and items at the church itself...obviously, people who wanted to get access to the young person,’ Holland added.

The police will maintain surveillance over places of religious gathering as they continue to restore peace and order.


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The alleged stabbing of the bishop was seen on livestream, which abruptly ended. Credit: 7NEWS Australia / YouTube


Liverpool Hospital's Emergency Department temporarily closed its doors to non-emergency cases as a ‘precautionary measure’, given the large crowds that had formed outside.

‘The ED remained open at all times to those requiring care, including those arriving via personal car or via ambulance,’ a hospital spokesperson said.

The church has since issued a statement confirming that Bishop Emmanuel and a senior priest are in stable condition and appealing for peace and prayers in the wake of the violence.



This incident has prompted community leaders and officials to speak out. NSW Premier Chris Minns described the scene as disturbing and called for calm.

‘My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and first responders who are working to keep us safe,’ the premier said.

‘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.’



The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community shared its profound sadness and shock, unequivocally condemning the attack and extending sympathy to the victims.

‘We extend our deepest sympathy to all those injured in the attack and wish them a speedy and complete recovery,’ the community’s National President and Grand Imam expressed.

Cumberland City Councillor and former Mayor Steve Christou also condemned the ‘unprovoked and mindless attack’, urging the community to focus on love and prayer rather than anger.

The attack comes after another stabbing rampage at Westfield Bondi Junction, which claimed six lives and injured several others, including a baby girl.

There is no indication that the two events are connected.

You can watch Sunrise’s coverage below:


Credit: 7NEWS Australia / YouTube

Key Takeaways
  • A Christian bishop and three churchgoers were allegedly stabbed during a service at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, Western Sydney.
  • The alleged attack occurred during a live-streamed service and led to tense scenes as police and ambulance were called to the scene.
  • A teenage boy, known to police and not a regular attendee of the church, has been arrested in connection to the stabbings.
  • Community leaders and officials, including the NSW Premier, have urged calm and condemned the violence, offering support to the victims.
We at the Seniors Discount Club extend our heartfelt thoughts to the victims and their families and commend the bravery of those who intervened.
 
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Well, well- you sound exactly like the peeps who committed these crimes!!

It’s not the ‘religion’s’ fault as most religions have peace in their ways!
I am a Christian & as I used to say when teaching adult faith, the institution of Christ’s church is perfect as He was, it’s the people who aren’t perfect!
There is good & bad in every religion & let’s face it NONE of us are perfect!!
Anyhow, I won’t argue with you (you have a right to your opinion), because, as my dear mum used to say, “you can’t argue with a fool”!!!
I’ll say a prayer for you because you obviously need one!
Such a pity this so-called “Seniors”(?) Club seems to be just another social media outlet for trolls & nasty people!!
God help the nursing homes when they are full of nasty old crones like some are on this Forum!
Most people on this Forum are probably nice, peaceful, tolerant peeps, but you always get the ‘others’!!
I feel sorry for you, why don’t you just be nice? Don’t criticise other peoples beliefs, you’re welcome to your opinion but so are us ‘godbotherers’ as you call us people of faith!!
“To err is human, to forgive is divine”!
It is sad what we humans do to each other sometimes, using God’s name to perpetrate the evil we do!!
Have a wonderful day wherever you are!
🙏😊
I am criticizing the ideal of religion as a whole, not any any individual. If you think that, YOU are the worried one. Does your gullibility to religion make you feel that you are guided by an intangible "entity"?

It always makes me wonder why people are influenced by "beliefs, faith and hope" rather than "views, evidence and observation".

End of sermon. :ROFLMAO:
 
The history of mankind is not just the 21st century. Documented history goes back several thousand years.
It wasn't other people's deaths I was referring to.

If you keep going on the way you did, you are going to do yourself in.

As for the death toll from religious wars, I'm afraid that you are quite wrong on two counts.

Firstly, while religion has often been the excuse used for starting wars, the real reason for nearly every war has been the desire of rulers of countries to increase their own power.

Secondly, the greatest killer in the world was always disease. Yes, in some cases war helped to spread disease, but so did trade and exploration.

Religion has been at the heart of many evil acts, but it has also been at the heart of many noble acts.

There are, or have been, climate terrorist, political terrorist, music genre terrorist, motor vehicle brand terrorist, Etc, Etc...

There even anti-religion terrorist.

It's people who cannot tolerate being told that they might be wrong that are the problem not what they believe.
 
I'm writing this to a few people on here.

Any person who uses religion as an excuse to murder is wrong.

Any religion who encourages its people to kill is wrong

True religion is about peace and trust in God.

Sadly people have used religion as an excuse to kill as have certain leaders of churches but they are 100 % wrong

When we look at Israel and the Palestinians this looks like a religious war, Jews against Moslems but it's not religion it's all about land both sides believing they both own the land. If it was religion then they would be fighting over who's religion is right.
These two have been at war since biblical times.

I think those of you who don't believe in God should respect those who do.

God is not about murder but is about peace 🙏 ✨️ all this bad stuff is humans doing it and some sadly proclaiming it in Gods name.

I was the biggest athiest ever but my eyes were open to the truth.

Something to live by is " Don't do to others what you don't want done to you "
 
I am criticizing the ideal of religion as a whole, not any any individual. If you think that, YOU are the worried one. Does your gullibility to religion make you feel that you are guided by an intangible "entity"?

It always makes me wonder why people are influenced by "beliefs, faith and hope" rather than "views, evidence and observation".

End of sermon. :ROFLMAO:
Those 6 things you just mentioned actually go hand in hand - none are at odds with each other! So there’s hope for you yet!! Hahaha 🤣
Peace be with you🙏
 
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The murder was bad enough without this middle Eastern type of mob mentality. We don't need these types of thugs in Australia. They carry on like a pack of Hyenas and in this case causing malicious injury to the Police and thousands of dollars’ worth of damage to Police cars etc. They need to be tracked down and dealt with by jail time and ordered to pay full costs for their efforts. Why should the NSW tax payer pick up the tab for pack mentality. If they refuse to pay then the jail term is at a rate of 1 days jail for every dollars’ worth of damage they caused.
 
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The murder was bad enough without this middle Eastern type of mob mentality. We don't need these types of thugs in Australia. They carry on like a pack of Hyenas and in this case causing malicious injury to the Police and thousands of dollars’ worth of damage to Police cars etc. They need to be tracked down and dealt with by jail time and ordered to pay full costs for their efforts. Why should the NSW tax payer pick up the tab for pack mentality. If they refuse to pay then the jail term is at a rate of 1 days jail for every dollars’ worth of damage they caused.
Well said and I would go one further , if they have lived in Australia for less than 10 years I would send them back to the country of birth.

Australia needs a zero tolerance to terrorism and rioting
 
Well said and I would go one further , if they have lived in Australia for less than 10 years I would send them back to the country of birth.

Australia needs a zero tolerance to terrorism and rioting
Understandable anger.

However, given that the Assyrian Christians have been the subject of multiple genocides (1914-18, 1933, 1969 and 2014-2017) in their homelands.

Which collectively have driven all but a handful of them out of these home countries.

(That handful being mostly women and children taken hostage by Islamic State. I understand 90% of these women and children have been killed by others living in those countries after being released into the community after IS was defeated.)

I doubt that either the government or the High Court would be willing to allow any Assyrian Christian to be deported back to those countries.

Don't misunderstand, I am not suggesting that any of this justifies the violence that occurred on the night. It doesn't.
 
Understandable anger.

However, given that the Assyrian Christians have been the subject of multiple genocides (1914-18, 1933, 1969 and 2014-2017) in their homelands.

Which collectively have driven all but a handful of them out of these home countries.

(That handful being mostly women and children taken hostage by Islamic State. I understand 90% of these women and children have been killed by others living in those countries after being released into the community after IS was defeated.)

I doubt that either the government or the High Court would be willing to allow any Assyrian Christian to be deported back to those countries.

Don't misunderstand, I am not suggesting that any of this justifies the violence that occurred on the night. It doesn't.
Given more reason they should leave violence back at home and keep the peace here. My daughters friend attends that church and was there the night before. What happened shocked her and has made her family feel like they did back in Assyria when Icis blew up their churches
 
I kinda think we’ve discussed this enough now, let’s just pray that nothing more happens in this community or anywhere else in our beautiful country!
We’ve had enough for one week!
I know the media has to do it’s job, but I am weary of all of this bombardment of these tragic events, I can’t begin to imagine what the families & friends of all victims (living or deceased) are feeling! My thoughts & prayers go out to all of them, & as a Christian I can only say “There but for the Grace of God go I” !!! Leaving this discussion now, enough to digest!!
Take care everyone🙏
 
Yeh I've seen all this. I was asking @Pamsterdam To post the video she was talking about, this was her comment " This preacher has been putting out a lot of 'hate' talk about a lot of religions - he called the Anglican church 'sons of a snake' in one of his Youtube videos"

I have only seen good preaching from him and nothing but peaceful sermons
My mistake. Apologies. Shocking loss of reading focus on my part.
Yes, I have only seen good things said about him apart from the comments you are referring to. Today in fact, as you are probably aware, he has forgiven his attacker which is hardly the choice of a hateful person.
 
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My mistake. Apologies. Shocking loss of reading focus on my part.
Yes, I have only seen good things said about him apart from the comments you are referring to. Today in fact, as you are probably aware, he has forgiven his attacker which is hardly the choice of a hateful person.
Over the past few days I've watched his sermons on YouTube and have seen how amazing he is. When he was attacked he actually prayed for his attacker and the people who made him like this. Not many would do this
 

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