Sydney Church Stabbing: Teenagers Charged with Terrorist Act
Five teenagers, aged between 14 and 17, were charged with various offenses, including conspiring to engage in or planning a terrorist act. The police uncovered a sinister plot where four teenagers had planned to buy guns and attack Jewish people, as reported by Australian media citing official documents.
Details of the Planned Attack
- Four teenagers, aged between 15 and 17, used the encrypted messaging app Signal to plan their attack.
- The police alleged that they all adhered to a religiously motivated, violent extremist ideology.
- They were part of a network that included the 16-year-old who stabbed Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel during a church service.
“I wanna die and I wanna kill…I’m just excited…Is your plan to get caught or die or escape?” a 17-year-old allegedly said in a group chat on April 20.
“We’re gonna be planning for a while…we prefer to escape, but whatever happens, it’s the qadr (predetermination) of Allah,” a 16-year-old allegedly responded.
In a separate conversation, on April 19, a 15-year-old allegedly expressed a desire to target Jewish people.
The 16-year-old allegedly mentioned knowing the person who stabbed the bishop, referring to him as his mate.
Discussion of Buying Guns
According to a police fact sheet, two defendants discussed buying guns on April 19, the same day the 16-year-old suspect was charged for stabbing the bishop.
Australia has strict gun ownership laws, but reports suggest a black market for firearms in Sydney.
Police Raids and Arrests
The teenagers were among those arrested in raids across Sydney for allegedly following a violent extremist ideology.
New South Wales Police Deputy Commissioner David Hudson stated that the raids, involving over 400 police officers executing 13 search warrants, were conducted due to the suspects being considered an immediate threat.
Bishop Emmanuel’s Return and Response
Assyrian Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel returned to the church on April 28, speaking about losing sight in his right eye after the attack.
During his sermon, he expressed forgiveness towards the attacker, referring to him as his son and offering prayers for him.
The parents of the alleged attacker spoke publicly for the first time, detailing their son’s history of anger management issues and violence.
Investigations revealed the suspect’s interactions with extremists online and a suspected autism spectrum disorder, with experts suggesting vulnerabilities to radicalization due to mental health concerns.