A religious leader has been stabbed and up to three others injured in an attack at a church in Sydney’s west.
The attack happened at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley tonight while a bishop was giving a service that was being livestreamed online.
Multiple police and ambulance crews have raced to the scene.
The injured include four men, believed to be aged in their 60s, 50s, 30s, and 20s.
The church had advertised tonight’s sermon was being delivered by His Grace Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel.
He was due to give an Assyrian Bible preaching that started at 7pm.
The bishop is popular but divisive among the Orthodox community, and many of his sermons are shared online.
He attracted attention during the coronavirus lockdown in June 2021 when he criticised the restrictions and vaccine mandates.
NSW Police confirmed they responded to reports of a stabbing, and that they have a man in custody.
“Officers arrested a male and he is assisting police with inquiries,” a statement said.
“The injured people suffered non-life threatening injuries and are being treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics.”
Police urged members of the public to avoid the area.
The attack comes just three days after six people were killed during a stabbing massacre at Sydney’s Bondi Westfield Shopping Centre.
There is nothing to suggest the two events are linked.
