A tenth man who allegedly took part in a riot outside a western Sydney church after the stabbing of a bishop has been charged.
The melee broke out in the suburb of Wakeley, 35km west of Sydney’s CBD, after the alleged terror stabbing of 53-year-old Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel on April 15.
Officers attached to Strike Force Dribs conducted a search warrant at a home on Milton Street, Granville on Saturday, in connection to the riot.
A 27-year-old man was arrested at the home and several items alleged to be linked to the incident at Wakeley were seized
The man was taken to Granville Police Station where he was charged with riot and throw missile at police officer at public disorder.
He was refused bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Sunday.
A tenth man (pictured centre) who allegedly took part in a riot outside a western Sydney church after the stabbing of a bishop has been charged.
The latest arrest of an alleged rioter follows the arrest of seven young people in counter-terrorism raids, which were also in response to last week’s church stabbing.
More than 400 members of a joint counter-terrorism team from state and federal police forces began kicking down doors at 13 homes in Sydney’s south-west at about 11.15am on Wednesday.
The attack on Bishop Emmanuel at the Assyrian Christ The Good Shepherd Church, has been declared a religiously motivated terror incident.
Those arrested were 15, 16 and 17 year-olds.
‘We will allege that these individuals adhere to a religiously motivated violent extremist ideology,’ NSW Police Deputy Commissioner David Hudson said.
‘These investigations have been progressing since the incident, the investigations including comprehensive surveillance activities and intensive scrutiny of these individuals.’
The counter-terrorism team said those arrested allegedly ‘posed an unacceptable risk to the people of New South Wales’.
‘Our current, purely investigative, strategies could not adequately ensure public safety,’ Commissioner Hudson said.
‘As a result, we determined that we needed to escalate our activities and that overt action was required.
‘I can assure the community there is no ongoing threat to the community, and the action we have taken today has mitigated any risk of future or further harm.’
Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett emphasised the arrests were not racially or religiously motivated.
‘I want to be very clear, we target criminality and not countries. We target radicalisation, not religion,’ she said.
‘We ask Australians to remain vigilant. I urge people who see or hear something that they feel is not right to contact the National Security Hotline immediately.’
Officers attached to Strike Force Dribs conducted a search warrant at a home on Milton Street, Granville on Saturday, in connection with the riot
A 27-year-old man was arrested at the scene and several items alleged to be linked to the incident at Wakeley were seized
The raids took place in theBankstown, Prestons, Casula, Lurnea, Rydalmere, Greenacre, Strathfield, Chester Hill and Punchbowl, as well as a property in Goulburn, 195km south-west of Sydney.
A 16-year-old boy, who can not be identified for legal reasons, is accused of stabbing Bishop Emmanuel during a livestreamed sermon in front of parishioners.
He was charged with terrorism offences and refused bail.
The use of the term terrorism by police indicates authorities believe the incident was religiously or politically motivated.
Witnesses to the attack on the bishop said the alleged perpetrator used the Islamic phrase ‘Allahu Akbar’ and allegedly said in Arabic that Bishop Emmanuel had denigrated ‘my prophet’.
The man (left) was taken to Granville Police Station where he was charged with riot and throw missile at police officer at public disorder
The stabbing sparked a massive riot outside the church with around 2,000 people chanting ‘bring him out’ and ‘an eye for an eye’.
Police kept the alleged terrorist inside the church during the demonstration, over fears for his safety.
Dozens of police officers were injured and police property damaged in the riot, with some officers and paramedics were forced to take shelter inside the church.
Crime Stoppers NSW 1800 333 000
National Security Hotline 1800 123 400
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