Sydney rocked by second mass stabbing in days as knifeman attacks bishop and worshippers in church
15 April 2024, 11:13 | Updated: 15 April 2024, 13:49
Sydney has been rocked by another mass stabbing only days after six people were killed at a shopping centre.
Listen to this article
Loading audio...
Four people have been injured after a bishop and a number of worshippers were attacked inside Christ the Good Shepherd Church in the western suburb of Wakeley on Monday night just after 7pm.
The force added a man in his 50s and a man his 30s were treated for multiple lacerations and transported by ambulance to Liverpool Hospital.
Paramedics also treated a number of people at the scene including a man in his 20s for lacerations to the hand and a man in his 60s for a laceration to the arm.
NSW Police confirmed a man has been arrested.
A police operation is underway in Wakeley, following reports of a stabbing.
— NSW Police Force (@nswpolice) April 15, 2024
Officers attached to Fairfield City Police Area Command attended a location on Welcome Street, Wakeley following reports a number of people were stabbed.
Officers arrested a male and he is assisting…
A police operation is ongoing and the local community has been urged to avoid the area.
Multiple paramedic crews are still on the scene at the moment.
Read more: ‘Obvious’ Sydney attacker targeted women, Australian police say, as sixth victim named
Footage of the harrowing attack was shared on social media.
The video shows Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel speaking to the congregation before a man dressed in all black walks up to him and allegedly stabs him a number of times.
Screams can be heard before a live feed of the Mass, which was being shown on YouTube, was quickly cut off.
Unverified footage on social media appears to show rioting outside the Assyrian Aramaic church on Wellcome Street.
Reports suggest rocks have been thrown and police cars have been damaged by the crowds.
On Saturday, six people were killed at Westfield Bondi Junction complex.
So far, there is nothing to suggest the two attacks are linked.
Read more: Hundreds of survivors of Manchester Arena bombing to sue MI5
They have been named as Jade Young, 47, Dawn Singleton, 25, Pikria Darchia, 55, Faraz Tahir, 30, Ashlee Good, 38 and Cheng Yixuan, 25.
A number of others, including a 9-month-old baby, were also injured.
Authorities have said the attack was most likely related to the mental health of attacker Joel Cauchi, and that it appeared he had targeted women.
Cauchi, 40, was later shot dead by police.
