Sydney: Teenager charged with terrorism in church stabbing
A 16-year-old boy, who was arrested last week, for his alleged involvement in the knife attack at a church in Sydney, Australia has been charged with terrorism. The teenager is accused of attacking Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel and the Rev Isaac Royel at the Christ the Good Shepherd Church on Monday. Four people were injured in the incident. Footage from the scene showed the boy restrained by the congregation and shouting at Emmanuel for insulting Islam.
Teen suspect's court appearance and past record revealed
The case was presented at a juvenile court in Sydney on Friday, where the accused did not appear via video link from his hospital bed and did not apply for bail. The teenager, whose identity remains undisclosed, has a record of offenses involving knives. He has previously sought help from three psychologists and a school counselor. His lawyer revealed during Friday's court hearing that he had an upcoming appointment with a psychiatrist.
Suspect's family concerns and lawyer's proposal disclosed
The boy's family had previously expressed concerns about his anger management issues and volatile behavior, but there were no indications of radicalization. His attorney, Greg Scragg, suggested that the teenager's history indicates possible mental illness or intellectual disability. The judge recommended that the boy undergo a mental health evaluation while in custody. Upon discharge from hospital, he will be transferred to a juvenile detention center until his next court hearing on June 14.
Community response and authorities' actions post-assault
In response to the attack, approximately 600 people congregated at the church, demanding that police surrender the boy. This led to hours of rioting, resulting in 51 police officers being injured. Sydney mosques also received firebomb threats. Authorities are still searching for up to 50 people involved in the riot and anticipate making additional arrests soon. NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb confirmed that additional police forces have been deployed to western Sydney as part of the security measure.
6 killed in mass stabbing at a shopping centre
The church stabbing was the second such incident in Sydney within a three-day span. The previous attack occurred at a shopping center in the city's Bondi district. Joel Cauchi, from Queensland, stabbed five women and one man on Saturday, while injuring 12 others, including an infant. The attacker, Cauchi, was neutralized by a police officer at the scene. Police said that Cauchi had a history of mental health issues and clarified that the incident was not being treated as terrorism-related.
