An Assyrian Bishop was stabbed during Mass at a church in the suburbs of Sydney, Australia on Monday night. A knife-wielding assailant attacked the bishop in the middle of his sermon, resulting in the cleric and three other people being wounded in what is the second mass stabbing incident in the city within one week.
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was rushed to a nearby hospital after the incident that occurred at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in the suburb of Wakeley, west of Sydney, at 7 p.m. local time. Video footage shows the attacker calmly walking up to the bishop before attacking him.
The popular bishop, who is of Assyrian Aramaic heritage, is known for his anti-lockdown messaging as well as his critical stance towards Western foreign policy. The motives of the attacker are unknown as of yet. Bishop Emmanuel is understood to be recovering in the hospital.
The attacker was wrestled to the ground by attendees at the church immediately after the assault. Ambulances quickly arrived on the scene, while footage emerged of altercations between police and worshipers as the attacker was escorted from the church grounds.
A Sydney police spokesman issued a statement shortly after the incident confirming that a male had been arrested after the stabbing attack and was cooperating fully with authorities.
The attempt on Bishop Emmanuel’s life comes days after a similar mass stabbing event by what is reported to have been a homeless man with a history of mental illness, resulting in the deaths of six at a Sydney supermarket. The 40-year-old attacker was shot dead by police.
