New South Wales police are treating the alleged stabbing of a bishop during the live stream of a mass in western Sydney as a terrorist attack.
The premier, Chris Minns, said the decision was taken early on Tuesday morning and validated by the police minister.
The NSW police commissioner, Karen Webb, said a strike force had been established to investigate last night’s incident
“This is a major and serious criminal investigation,” Minns said on Tuesday.
“It is crucial that New South Wales police are able to devote their resources and intelligence as well as officers to the investigation of this crime.”
Hundreds of people clashed with police in western Sydney on Monday night after a prominent Orthodox Christian leader was allegedly stabbed at the altar of his church.
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was saying mass at the Assyrian Christ The Good Shepherd church in Wakeley just after 7pm on Monday when the alleged attack took place.
A live stream of the mass on the church’s website showed a person approaching the altar who then appeared to stab toward the bishop’s head multiple times. Three other people were also injured in the alleged attack.
More to come