Sydney church stabbing: Boy, 16, is charged with terrorism after bishop was allegedly stabbed during sermon in Wakeley

A 16-year-old boy has been charged with terrorism after a Christian Bishop was allegedly stabbed while delivering a sermon.  

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, allegedly stabbed Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel while he was delivering a livestreamed sermon in front of parishioners at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley in Sydney's west on Monday just after 7pm. 

The incident sparked a riot outside the church with a crowd of 2,000 people chanting 'bring him out' and 'an eye for an eye' as police kept him inside the building amid fears for his safety.

On Thursday evening police revealed the teenager has been charged with terrorism. 

'This afternoon investigators from the Joint Counter Terrorism Team Sydney attended a medical facility to interview the boy, before he was charged with committing a terrorist act under section 101.1 Criminal Code Act (Commonwealth) 1995, an offence which carries a maximum penalty of imprisonment for life,' s spokesperson for NSW Police said. 

The 16-year-old has been refused bail and will appear before a bedside court hearing tomorrow.

The alleged attack and its ugly aftermath, which saw some officers injured by projectiles and about 50 police vehicles damaged, was condemned across the political spectrum.

On Wednesday evening police revealed they had arrested a 19-year-old man - the first to be made over the 'public order incident'. He has since been released on bail.

Bishop Emmanuel was rushed to Liverpool Hospital, where he spent the last few days recovering. 

On Thursday morning, Bishop Emmanuel broke his silence from his hospital bed to plea for calm and to forgive his alleged attacker.

'The Lord Jesus never taught us to fight. The Lord Jesus never taught us to retaliate,' Bishop Emmanuel said.

'The Lord Jesus never said to us an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

More to come.