Sydney is rocked by another stabbing rampage with a priest and worshippers attacked at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley
A bishop and several worshippers have been attacked in another stabbing rampage to rock Sydney, as riot police are called in to quell mounting tensions in the city’s west.
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was preaching at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley in Sydney’s west on Monday just after 7pm when a man dressed in black walked up to the altar and allegedly stabbed him multiple times.
Horrifying footage of the incident, which was being broadcast live on the church’s YouTube page, shows Bishop Emmanuel look up in astonishment as the attacker suddenly rains down blows on his face and head.
The alleged attack has sparked unrest outside the church as hundreds gathered in protest, hurling bottles and bricks at a hastily-erected police barrier as chants of ‘an eye for an eye’ could be heard.
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was preaching at The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley in Sydney’s west on Monday evening when a man dressed in black walked up to the altar and stabbed him multiple times (pictured)
Bishop Emmanuel (pictured) gained notoriety during the pandemic when he slammed Sydney’s Covid lockdown as ‘mass slavery’ and claimed vaccines are futile because living ‘normally’ will boost immunity
Horrified screams can be heard as other worshippers rushed to the bishop’s aid as he fell to the floor.
Early reports suggest at least four others were also allegedly stabbed in the ensuing tussle.
Following the alleged attack, groups of police officers, completely outnumbered, huddled together as bottles and bricks were hurled at them.
Some in the crowd cheered as car windows were smashed.
Footage on social media appeared to show a ladder being used to smash down a window of a neighbouring building.
Riot officers reportedly used pepper spray on some of those gathered at the scene.
It comes just 48 hours after six people were murdered in Westfield Bondi Junction by a crazed knifeman.
Joel Cauchi, 40, stabbed five women and a male security guard to death and injured several others before he was gunned down by a police officer.
A spokesperson for NSW Police said Bishop Emmanuel suffered ‘non-life threatening injuries’.
‘Officers arrested a male and he is assisting police with inquiries,’ the spokesperson added.
Daily Mail Australia approached NSW Ambulance for comment.
Horrified screams can be heard in the footage as other worshippers rushed to the bishop’s aid as he falls to the floor (pictured)
Worshippers outside the church in the aftermath of the stabbing as tensions threatened to boil over
Christ The Good Shepherd Church is in Wakeley, in Sydney’s west
Bishop Emmanuel has a large flock on social media, with over 17,000 followers on Facebook.
He gained notoriety during the pandemic when he slammed Sydney’s Covid lockdown as ‘mass slavery’ and claimed vaccines are futile because living ‘normally’ will boost immunity.
Christ The Good Shepherd Church has almost 200,000 subscribers on YouTube.
More to come.
