Sydney church stabbing a ‘terrorist’ assault say police as Facebook and X ordered to take away footage – reside | EUROtoday

Following Monday’s assault on a Bishop Mar Mari Emmanue at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Sydney, the Australian Security Intelligence Organization, the nation’s predominant home spy company, and Australian Federal Police have joined state police in a counter-terrorism activity drive to investgate who else might be concerned.

ASIO director-general Mike Burgess stated the investigation had but to uncover any related threats.

“It does appear to be religiously motivated, but we continue our lines of investigation,” Burgess stated.

“Our job is to look at individuals connected with the attacker to assure ourselves that there is no-one else in the community with similar intent. At this stage, we have no indications of that,” Burgess added.

On ASIO’s recommendation, the danger of a terrorist assault in Australia is rated at “possible.” That is the second lowest degree after “not expected” on the five-tier National Terrorism Threat Advisory System.

Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel who was stabbed throughout a church service reside streamed from Sydney on Monday is a social media star with followers around the globe, however the bearded clergyman can also be a divisive preacher.

Dressed in darkish robes, clutching a big cross and sporting a bushy gray beard below a black cowl, Emmanuel’s sermons from the Assyrian Christ The Good Shepherd Church vary from homilies on the Bible to fiery criticisms of homosexuality, vaccinations, Islam and US President Joe Biden’s election.

The 53-year-old bishop, who has a well-liked youth following on TikTok and was awarded by YouTube in 2023 for hitting 100,000 subscribers, has nevertheless been a goal for criticism, hate and on-line trolling.

Emmanuel’s reputation peaked through the COVID pandemic as a result of his sermons had been on-line, in keeping with Mary Anoya, 17, whose household attends his church. She, like the opposite college students at her highschool, choose to look at his sermons on TikTok.

“I think everyone follows him on TikTok,” stated {the teenager} on Tuesday outdoors the church.

“Ever since he started to become famous his words just got twisted. I grew up knowing who he was, I know what type of person he is and it’s all just taken out of context.”

Footage of the stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Sydney shocked the world because it was broadcast reside by the church’s YouTube channel.

Clips have since been shared throughout social media platforms X and Facebook, which has led to Australia’s eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, issuing a 24-hour discover for the businesses in cost to take away them.

She stated that the footage had been deemed to be “material depicting gratuitous or offensive violence with a high degree of impact or detail”.

If Meta, which controls Facebook, and X don’t comply, the businesses might face fines, Ms Inman Grant warned.

She stated: “While the majority of mainstream social media platforms have engaged with us, I am not satisfied enough is being done to protect Australians from this most extreme and gratuitous violent material circulating online.

“That is why I am exercising my powers under the Online Safety Act to formally compel them to remove it. I have issued a notice to X requiring them to remove this content. A legal notice will also be sent to Meta this afternoon, and further notices are likely to follow. I will not hesitate to use further graduated powers at my disposal if there is noncompliance.”

Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese has praised the Frenchman who confronted Bondi Junction attacker Joel Cauchi for his “extraordinary bravery” and said he could stay in the country for as long as he wanted.

Damien Guerot, a French construction worker, has been dubbed by some as the “Bollard Man” after CCTV footage showed him confronting Cauchi with a bollard on an escalator during the deadly stabbing attack in Westfield Bondi Junction.

Six people were killed in the attack and 12 injured before Cauchi was shot dead by a police officer.

Mr Albanese told reporters in Canberra: “I say this to Damien Guerot – who is dealing with his visa applications – that you are welcome here, you are welcome to stay for as long as you like.

A 15-year-old boy arrested following the stabbing of a bishop at a church service in Sydney on Monday has suffered “severe” hand injuries, police have confirmed.

Footage streamed online of the service at the Christ The Good Shepherd Church in the suburb of Wakeley showed a person walking up to the altar before appearing to attack Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel.

They were then overpowered by worshippers who rushed to the bishop’s support.

It has since emerged that the teenager suspect within the assault was taken to hospital.

Acting Assistant Police Commissioner Andrew Holland recommended the congregation for stepping in through the incident earlier than calling police. When requested if the accused teen’s fingers had been severed, he stated the hand accidents had been “severe”.

The terrorism categorisation permits extra legislation enforcement sources to be centered on the crime. The declaration additionally offers police expanded powers to cease and search folks, premises and automobiles and not using a warrant.

New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb stated the teenager’s feedback and actions pointed to a non secular motive for the assault. She didn’t element the wording of the feedback that led her to imagine he had been religiously motivated.

“We believe there are elements that are satisfied in terms of religious-motivated extremism and of course the intimidation of the public through that person’s acts, by attending that church, whilst it was being live-streamed, intimidating not only the parishioners in attendance but those parishioners who were watching online and subsequently, those people that turned up to the church on the outside and the subsequent riot that happened,” Ms Webb stated.

The Australian Security Intelligence Organization, the nation’s predominant home spy company, and Australian Federal Police have joined state police in a counterterrorism activity drive to analyze who else was doubtlessly concerned.

The church stated in an announcement immediately the 53-year-old Iraq-born bishop’s situation was “improving”.

Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel has a robust social media following and is outspoken on a variety of points. He proselytises to each Jews and Muslims and is crucial of liberal Christian denominations.

He additionally speaks out on world political points and laments the plight of Palestinians in Gaza.

The bishop, described in native media as a determine typically seen as divisive on points similar to Covid-19 restrictions, was in nationwide information final yr with feedback about gender.

While one activity drive will look into the background of the attacker, the opposite will work to establish these within the rioting mob that attacked quite a few cops and paramedics responding to the scene, reported News.com.au.