Sydney Bishop Stabbing: 5 Teenagers Face Terror Charges

Five teenagers have been charged by police in Australia in connection with the stabbing incident of a Sydney bishop at the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley a few days ago.

Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was attacked during an evening sermon at the church by a 16-year-old. It was revealed by police that the juveniles, aged from 14 to 17 years, were associates of the 16-year-old boy accused of stabbing Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel.

Sydney Bishop Stabbing

A variety of charges, including "conspiring to engage in any act in preparation for, or planning, a terrorist act," have been laid by police against the group. Charges also relate to possessing or controlling violent extremist material. The operation was conducted by a joint counterterrorism task force, which included the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. All five teenagers were refused bail.

Meanwhile, the bishop who was stabbed during a live-streamed sermon expressed forgiveness towards his attacker. In a YouTube video, the bishop said, "I forgive whoever has done this act and I say to him: You are my son, I love you and I will always pray for you. And whoever sent you to do this, I forgive them as well."

Seven teenagers were arrested by an Australian counter-terrorism team in connection with the stabbing incident at Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley a few days ago, out of which five were charged in the incident. "At a news conference following the arrests, New South Wales state Police Deputy Commissioner David Hudson assured that there is no ongoing threat to the community, and the action taken has mitigated any risk of future or further harm."

The joint counter-terrorism team's operation, which involved 13 raids in Sydney and the regional town of Goulburn, was a combined effort between state, federal police, and the domestic intelligence agency. A significant amount of electronic material was seized in the raids, as stated by the police.