Wakeley: New charges for teen alleged to have stabbed Good Shepherd Church bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel as police search through thousands of pictures on his phone
Police are searching through more than 52,000 photos and 7,500 videos stored on the phone of a teenager accused of carrying out a terrorist attack on a Sydney church, as the boy faces new charges, a court has heard.
The 16-year-old boy appeared in Parramatta Children’s Court on Friday charged with committing an act of terrorism following an investigation by AFP, ASIO and NSW police.
Police allege the teenager, who cannot be named, stabbed Assyrian Church Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel multiple times at Hope the Good Shepherd Church in Sydney’s west on April 15.
Another man reportedly suffered lacerations after church members rushed to restrain the teen. The crazy alleged incident was streamed live by the church during the service.
The teenager has been charged in connection with the alleged stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel. Image: supplied
The representative of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions told the court they were examining the stockpile of photographs and videos “with the aim of identifying evidence of terrorism”.
The representative said it would take some time to examine the material and further warned that parallel procedures for forensic warrants for on-site evidence could also delay the proceedings.
The court was also told that the teenager now faces two further charges, including causing grievous bodily harm with intent to murder in connection with the alleged attack on Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel.
The second additional charge – wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm – relates to injuries the teenager allegedly caused to Father Isaac Royel that same night.
He was refused bail to appear in court again on July 26 in just over a month for a summary order for service.
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel speaking at Wakeley Church on April 28, 2024. Photo: supplied
Police allege the teenager traveled about 90 minutes to the church in Sydney’s west to carry out the attack, and if convicted he faces a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The court was previously told that the boy, who was remanded in custody after being refused bail, had a history of behavior consistent with mental illness or intellectual disability.
A further six teenagers aged between 15 and 17, who police say were part of a network linked to the alleged stabbing, have also been charged by officers with terrorism-related offences.
Police have also charged 29 people, five of them as recently as Thursday, over an alleged riot caused by the attack that damaged several police cars.
The 29 people are not accused of involvement in terrorist activities.
Despite the dramatic arrest, police on Friday renewed calls for help in identifying seven more people who investigators say could help with their investigation.
More to come.