Wakeley stabbing: Five teenage boys from an alleged ‘youth terror cell’ charged after cops raid homes following the horror stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel

Five teenagers have been charged with terror and extremism-related offenses following an investigation into the horror stabbing at a church in Sydney’s west.

A joint counter-terrorism team, including more than 400 state and federal police officers, raided 13 homes in the city’s southwest around 11:15 a.m. Wednesday.

The sweeping raids were in response to the alleged stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley in Sydney’s west on April 15.

Police declared the incident – ​​which was broadcast via the church’s livestream – as a religiously motivated terror attack and arrested the 16-year-old teenager.

On Wednesday, police raided the homes of the alleged attacker’s associates after a WhatsApp group on his phone discovered an alleged youth terror cell.

It is understood one of the alleged members of the teen terror cell, which police say is operating in Sydney’s south-west suburbs, is a young relative of an adult currently behind bars for terrorist offences.

Police labeled the group as “religiously motivated violent extremists” and believed the group was “likely” planning another attack.

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Dave Hudson said authorities were forced to act before another terror attack occurred.

“It was felt that the group, the subject of their attention, posed an unacceptable risk to the people of New South Wales, and our current purely investigative strategies could not adequately ensure public safety,” Dep Comm Hudson said.

“As a result, we came to the conclusion that we needed to escalate our activities and that overt action was necessary.

‘The investigation led us to believe it was likely an attack would follow.

“Their behavior while under that supervision led us to believe that if they committed any act, we would not be able to prevent it.

‘No specific objectives were stated. But it’s also just the constant threat and the loose character of the group.’

Police said there was no specific threat to public safety and the raids were not related to Thursday’s Anzac Day commemorations.

However, the national terrorism threat level remains at ‘possible’.

Seven teenagers were arrested during the large-scale raids, with police charging five of them with terror-related offences.

The identities of the boys are not known, but they are between 14 and 17 years old.

Three men – two 16-year-olds and one 17-year-old – were charged with conspiracy to participate in an act in preparation or planning of an act of terrorism, with the older man also charged with possessing a knife. in a public place.

A 17-year-old and a 14-year-old were also charged with possession or control of violent extremist material obtained or accessed through a carriage service.

All five teenagers were refused bail and will appear in the Sydney Children’s Court on Thursday.

The other youths and men arrested during the raids are assisting police in the ongoing investigation.

Suburbs involved in the raids included Bankstown, Prestons, Casula, Lurnea, Rydalmere, Greenacre, Strathfield, Chester Hill and Punchbowl, as well as a property in Goulburn, 195km south-west of Sydney.

A 16-year-old man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, is accused of stabbing Bishop Emmanuel, 55, during a live-streamed sermon to parishioners.

The teenager is said to have stabbed the popular Christian leader six times and is in pre-trial detention after being charged with terrorism-related offences.

The use of the term terrorism by police indicates that authorities believe the incident was religiously or politically motivated.

Witnesses to Monday’s attack said the alleged perpetrator used the Islamic phrase “Allahu Akbar” and said in Arabic that Bishop Emmanuel had denigrated “my prophet.”

The stabbing led to a huge riot outside the church, with around 2,000 people chanting ‘bring him out’ and ‘an eye for an eye’.

Police kept the suspected terrorist inside the church during the demonstration, fearing for his safety.

The large, angry crowd saw dozens of officers injured and police property damaged, with some forced to take shelter in the church with paramedics.

Police made their first arrest in connection with the riots just hours before the teenager was charged with terrorism.

Police have released images of nine other men they want to speak to in connection with the riots. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers.

All five were refused bail to appear in the Children’s Court today (Thursday, April 25, 2024).

Operational activities remain ongoing, with the other youths and men assisting police with investigations.

There is no specific threat to public safety and no threat to Anzac Day commemorations.

The Joint Counter Terrorism Team Sydney consists of members from the NSW Police Force, the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) and the NSW Crime Commission.

Anyone with information about extremist activity or possible threats to the community should come forward, no matter how small or insignificant you think the information is. The national security hotline is 1800 123 400.