Father of suspected Sydney terrorist breaks his silence – as it’s revealed he spent the night at Lakemba Mosque after learning about the attack

The father of a teenager who allegedly stabbed Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel spent the night in Sydney’s largest mosque after learning of the attack.

The 16-year-old, who has been arrested but cannot be named for legal reasons, is believed to have carried out the attack at around 7pm on Monday in front of parishioners and those watching the service online.

The stabbing sparked violent riots attended by up to 2,000 people, with some reportedly shouting that the teenager was a “dead man.”

Lebanese Muslim Association secretary Gamel Kheir said the father had been driving through Sydney with a friend, too scared to return to his home.

The father then told the man to drive to meet him at Lakemba Mosque.

He said the father was “distraught” and told him he just wanted to see his son.

The stabbing sparked violent riots in Wakeley, with five police officers injured

“He was really in shock, he broke my heart,” Mr Kheir said smh.com.au.

Mr Kheir said the father had told him his son had been “disobedient” recently, but there was no evidence he had been radicalized by extremist views.

“He couldn’t tell he had gone that far down,” he said.

Mr Kheir added that in his view this was not a matter of religion, but of mental health.

“I don’t know of any religion … that says you have to go to another parish and stab someone,” he added.

The Lebanese Muslim Association shared images from the Lakemba Mosque on Tuesday, imam Sheikh Yahya Safi condemning the attack.

“This is against our religion, we do not accept it in any way and it is a childish act,” he said in the video message.

‘We need our society to maintain this peace, to live together in safety.’

The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils also condemned the stabbing as a heinous act.

“Such brutality is in stark contrast to our cherished values ​​of peace, empathy and mutual respect,” the report said in a statement, calling on community members to assist with the police investigation.

Police were injured and paramedics took shelter in the church as riots broke out after the attack as some tried to gain access to the alleged attacker, who was held in the place of worship.

Up to 2,000 people rushed to the church after news of the stabbing broke

Several police cars were damaged during the riots, which were widely condemned

“We believe people not involved in the church have emerged as an excuse for rioting,” NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said.

The alleged attacker – a 16-year-old with a history of knife offenses – has yet to be charged.

He remained under police guard in hospital and was likely to remain there for a number of days, Commissioner Webb told ABC Radio on Wednesday.

The incident met the criteria to be labeled an act of terror, giving police more powers, but it remained to be seen whether the teenager would be charged with terrorist offences, she said.

The church (pictured on Tuesday) is an ultra-conservative sect of the Assyrian Orthodox faith based in Wakeley, western Sydney

The teenager’s family has moved from their home following intense media attention and threats of reprisals against Islamic religious centers following the stabbing at the Assyrian Christian church.

“I think they’ve decided to move temporarily so they’re not the center of attention,” Commissioner Webb said, adding that the family’s privacy must be respected.

A candlelight vigil outside the church passed off peacefully on Tuesday evening and no related incidents were reported across Sydney, she said, but a risk remained as emotions ran high.

“This is one person acting alone and it’s not about one community versus another,” she said.