Sydney church stabbing: Boy, 15, who 'used a knife to stab bishop' detained by police

Horrific footage showed the moment Bishop Mari Emmanuel was attacked with a man seen walking up to the alter at The Good Shepherd Church in Sydney before launching the frenzied assault

Police in Sydney have detained a teenage boy over the knife attack of a bishop who was delivering a sermon.

The shocking attack, livestreamed on YouTube by church cameras this afternoon, came as Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was preaching at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Sydney's Wakeley district. New South Wales Police have now said a boy aged 15 had been taken in for questioning.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland said the teenager was "known to police". Worshippers watched in horror as the Bishop Emmanuel was attacked during the service on Monday in a city still reeling from the mass stabbing at Westfield shopping centre at Bondi Junction.

Members of the congregation rushed to help, holding the assailant down. A video broadcast live on the church's YouTube page shows the bishop looking up in shock as he appeared to be struck to his head and face.

Fairfield deputy mayor Charbel Saliba told how Bishop Emmanuel then put his hand on the attacker and started praying, 6 News Australia reports. It's understood that other members of the congregation were attacked, with police saying their injuries were not deemed life-threatening.

One person wrote on X: "It’s with great sadness I post this. Bishop Mari Mari Emmanuel of Sydney's Christ the Good Shepherd Church has been stabbed multiple times. I frequently post him on my Bible page. He was doing his normal live stream and while he was saying mass he was attacked. I have no other info at this time. Please say a prayer for his recovery. Again, please."

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