Wakeley terrorist attack declared, Mari Mari Emmanuel, Christ The Good Shepherd worshippers stabbed; Bondi Junction fallout continues

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said there was “no place” for extremism in Australia.

“Last night, a 16-year-old who has been apprehended was accused of stabbing a bishop at Christ The Good Shepherd church in Wakeley. This is a disturbing incident,” he said.

“There is no place for violence in our community. There’s no place for violent extremism. We’re a peace-loving nation. This is a time to unite, not divide, as a community, and as a
country.”

Albanese, flanked by ASIO director-general Mike Burgess and AFP commissioner Reece Kershaw, said there had been a national security committee meeting this morning to discuss the attack, which has been declared a terrorist incident.

“Can I say that we understand the distress and concerns that are there in the community,
particularly after the tragic event at Bondi Junction on Saturday. But it’s not acceptable to impede and injure police doing their duty, or to damage police vehicles in a way that we saw last night,” Albanese said.

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“People should not take the law into their own hands. But should allow our police, and our security agencies, to do their job. My job as prime minister is to give them that support.”

Australian Federal Police commissioner Reece Kershaw said Monday night’s attack in western Sydney was being investigated by the NSW joint counterterrorism team, which includes AFP.

“The AFP, together with ASIO and New South Wales police, will continue to investigate how this incident occurred, and the individual involved,” he said.

“This attack will have a significant impact on the Australian community, and I would like to reassure the Australian community that the AFP, together with its law enforcement partners, particularly under the joint counterterrorism team, is working to investigate this incident from all angles.”

Kershaw said it was an ongoing investigation and he would not discuss further detail and urged anyone with information to contact NSW police.

“All Australians should remain vigilant and I urge people who see or hear something that they feel is not right to contact the national security hotline immediately on 1800 123 400,” he said.