In a shocking turn of events, a stabbing at a Sydney church has been declared a terrorism incident by Australian police.

A mass at Assyrian Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Sydney turned into a scene of terror on Monday when a bishop, a priest, and others were stabbed.

BBC reported that the incident unfolded during a live-streamed mass, where a 16-year-old boy allegedly attacked multiple individuals, including Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel and Father Isaac Royel. The assailant was also injured during the altercation.

The violence resulted in at least four people sustaining non-life-threatening injuries. An online audience witnessed the entire episode, further amplifying the chaos and leading to widespread community unrest in Wakeley, Sydney.

Immediately following the incident, the teenager was taken into custody, and investigations pointed towards religious extremism as the motive, although the specific beliefs of the attacker have not been disclosed.

Community and National Leaders React to the Violence

In response to the attack, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese convened an emergency national security meeting to address the situation.

He publicly condemned the act of violence and highlighted the importance of maintaining peace, urging the public to avoid taking justice into their own hands.

New South Wales (NSW) Police Commissioner Karen Webb described the condition of the church officials as fortunate, given the circumstances. "They're lucky to be alive," she commented. Surgeries were being performed on both the bishop and the priest in the aftermath of their attacks.

Chris Minns, State Premier of NSW, expressed his concerns about the growing community anxiety, especially following a separate deadly stabbing at a Sydney shopping center just days prior.

Social Media's Role in Spreading Violence

Amid the turmoil, social media platforms became a hotbed for escalating violence. Videos of the incident circulating online led to a violent clash involving hundreds outside the church, injuring police officers and causing damage to police vehicles.

Prime Minister Albanese criticized social media companies for not controlling the spread of violent content. The government has since demanded the removal of any offensive material linked to the attack, striving to prevent further incitement of violence.

An Assyrian community member, Maria, noted the negative impact of social media. "Many inflammatory posts were making the rounds, people advocating for violence and such. It was making lots of people very angry," she recounted.

Authorities and Community Leaders Call for Peace

The NSW authorities and religious leaders have been vocal in their calls for peace and are promising strict actions against any further acts of violence. The emphasis is on maintaining order and protecting the community amidst this crisis.

The NSW Ambulance also criticized the hostile behavior of the crowd during the incident, which posed additional challenges to emergency responders trying to assist the injured.

Dominic Morgan, head of NSW Ambulance, stressed the need for community support for their personnel, "Our people, that do nothing but go to care and help every single day, need to know that they've got the support of the community," he stated.

The teenager involved in the stabbing was known to the police due to previous knife-related charges but was not on any national terror watch list, adding another layer of complexity to the community's understanding of the tragedy.

Conclusion: A Community Shaken but Seeking Healing

The stabbing at Assyrian Christ The Good Shepherd Church has left a community shaken. Led by a disturbed youth, this act of violence has highlighted issues of religious extremism, the impact of social media in propagating violence, and the broader societal challenges of maintaining safety and security.

Political leaders and law enforcement responses have focused on healing, peace, and stricter control over inflammatory content online. As investigations continue, the nation watches closely, hoping for recovery and reconciliation within the disturbed community.