A bishop at a church in Sydney has been stabbed while live-streaming an address online, sparking riots and a heavy police presence in the area outside.
In disturbing footage posted on social media, Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel can be seen reading from a Bible as a man in a black hooded jumper approaches him from the aisle.
The attacker then appears to stab Emmanuel, reportedly with a pen, before members of the congregation rush to stop him.
Further footage posted online shows the bishop being removed from the church in a stretcher, with reports stating he was then taken to Sydney's Liverpool Hospital "in a stable condition".
The deputy mayor of Fairfield in Western Sydney, Charbel Saliba, said Emmanuel had stood up, placed his hand on the attacker and began praying after he had been stabbed.
Police have confirmed that they attended the venue "following reports a number of people were stabbed" and that a number of people had been injured.
Live-streamed footage shows the attacker appearing to stab Emmanuel, reportedly with a pen
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The stabbings appear to have sparked protests outside the church - Australian outlet 6 News reported that "projectiles" have damaged a police car responding to the incident, while other witnesses have described the unfolding crowd trouble as "total bedlam".
Footage posted from the scene in the aftermath of the attack initially showed a large police presence dealing with a crowd outside. Later reports indicated that the attacker had been "barricaded" inside the venue, and despite police efforts to remove him - having arrested the man already - members of the church were not letting him leave.
Videos have also emerged of what appears to be the crowd breaking into the church, with a witness claiming it has been "breached". Riot police were also pictured responding to the incident.
The attacker has since been removed to an "undisclosed location", according to 6 News.
Frank Carbone, the mayor of Fairfield, called for the community to remain calm and let authorities do their work.
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Footage has also emerged of what appears to be the crowd breaking into the church, with a witness claiming it has been "breached"
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The live stream of the apparent stabbing was being broadcast by the Christ the Good Shepherd Church, a Christian church in Wakeley, Western Sydney, apparently during an Assyrian bible study event.
A New South Wales Police statement said: "A police operation is underway in Wakeley, following reports of a stabbing. Officers attached to Fairfield City Police Area Command attended a location on Welcome Street, Wakeley following reports a number of people were stabbed.
"Officers arrested a male and he is assisting police with inquiries. The injured people suffered non-life threatening injuries and are being treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics."
Carbone told Sky News Australia: "Bishops and priests - they’re very very important in our community, they only preach love and peace, and to have this happen to one of them is horrific.
Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Western Sydney, where the stabbing took place
"However, I understand a lot of members in our community are really distraught but what is important is I believe that the bishop has been taken to hospital and should be okay.
"I do call for calm. Police will do their job - and please let’s not make the police’s job any harder.
"We live in difficult times right now… so I can understand frustration and the anger from the communities but I ask them as the mayor just to please be calm."
GB News has approached Christ the Good Shepherd Church for comment.
Australian authorities have since declared the stabbing a religiously motivated "terrorist act".
New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the attacker allegedly made comments to the bishop as he approached which were "centred around religion", adding that police believed the staging of the attack during an online live-stream was "intimidating not only the parishioners in attendance, but those parishioners who were watching online".
In reaction to the incident, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese convened an emergency meeting of national security agencies, labelling the attack "disturbing".
Albanese said: "We're a peace-loving nation... There's no place for violent extremism," and urged people to "not take the law into their own hands".
This is the second stabbing in as many days in Sydney; on Saturday, six people were killed by a knifeman at a shopping centre in Bondi Junction in the east of the city, before the attacker was shot dead by police.
There is no evidence to suggest the two attacks are linked.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb said Saturday's incident is not thought to be terror-related.
