A number of people were wounded in a stabbing incident during a service at a church in a suburb of Sydney on Monday, police said.
It was the second reported mass stabbing in just three days in Sydney after six people were killed in a knife attack at a mall in the Bondi area.
Officers arrested a male and have taken him to an undisclosed location following the attack in Wakeley, about 30 km (18 miles) west of Sydney's central business district.
Police attempted to control angry crowds gathered outside the church after the attack, demanding the suspect be brought outside, according to a Reuters witness.
Monday's attack happened during a service at an Assyrian church called Christ The Good Shepherd Church. Videos of the incident circulating online showed a man standing at the alter of the church and speaking to worshippers as another man wearing a black jumper walks towards him and attacks him. Reuters has not verified the footage.
Horrified members of the congregation scream as the man stabs the priest several time in the chest, the videos show.
The Church streamed the sermons live on its social media page. The motive of the attack is unknown.
One witness told Reuters that the priest attacked was Mar Mari Emmanuel, who is the bishop of the church.
"There was so much anger because the bishop is loved by them, he’s loved by myself as well, he preaches about the lord and we love the lord,” said a local resident Canny, who also saw the bishop put in an ambulance.
Can someone please tell me what denomination church this is?
Probably it's similar to Joel Olstein's church
@CurlewDanRepublican2wks2W
I read somewhere it’s an Assyrian church.
Death Penalty for the stabber!
Evil.
Anyone who would something like this is just evil.
Praying for all the injured.
@L1bertyBuzzardMountain2wks2W
Absolutely disgusted. Violence is spiraling out of control.
Thoughts with the victims. Immediate action needed
@ActivistMeerkatVeteran2wks2W
Christianity is under attack all over the world
@ISIDEWITH2wks2W
@ISIDEWITH2wks2W
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