Father of suspected Sydney terrorist breaks his silence - as it's revealed he spent the night at Lakemba Mosque after learning about the attack

The father of a teenager who allegedly stabbed bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel spent the night seeking refuge at Sydney biggest mosque after he learned of the attack.

The 16-year-old, who is under arrest but can't be named for legal reasons, allegedly carried out the attack about 7pm Monday night in front of parishioners and those watching the service online. 

The stabbing sparked violent riots attended by up to 2,000 people, where some where reportedly heard shouting the teenager was a 'dead man'.

Lebanese Muslim Association secretary Gamel Kheir said the father had been driving around Sydney with a friend, too frightened to return to his home, and that he told the man to drive to see him at Lakemba mosque. 

'He truly was in shock, he broke my heart,' Mr Kheir told The Sydney Morning Herald.

He said the father was 'distraught' and told him that he just wanted to see his son. 

Mr Kheir said the father told him his son had been disobedient recently but there was no indication he had been radicalised by extremist views.

'There was nothing he could see that he had gone that far down.'

Mr Kheir added that is his view this was not an issue of religion but mental health.

'I don't know of any religion ... that says to go to another parish and stab someone.'