Authorities said they arrested a suspect from Christ The Good Shepherd Church in the suburb of Wakeley.
None of the injured had life-threatening injuries, police said.
The church stabbing follows a fatal incident on Saturday in which a knife-wielding attacker killed six people and injured several others at a shopping center in the Sydney suburb of Bondi Junction , before being shot dead by a police officer.
“A large police intervention is underway and the public is asked to avoid the area,” police said.
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was preaching the Assyrian Bible on Monday at 7 p.m., according to the Christ The Good Shepherd Church Facebook page. A man dressed in dark clothing approached him and attacked him several times with a sharp object, according to a video widely shared on social media. The video has not been verified by police or the Washington Post.
Before the video pans to the left, obscuring the view of the attack, members of the congregation can be seen rushing toward the bishop. The attack, filmed live and now deleted from the church’s social networks, lasted less than 8 seconds.
The church did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment Monday.
“Disturbing scenes this evening in Wakeley,” New South Wales Premier Chris Mins said. social networks Monday evening. “It is important that the community remains calm and continues to listen and act as instructed by the police and emergency services. »
Police sought to contain the riot outside the church after the tear gas was fired, according to the Telegraph. Hundreds of people gathered and threw bottles and bricks at the police barrier.
The crowd reportedly broke the windows of cars parked in front of the church as well as a church window.
The Telegraph cited videos on social media showing crowds chanting “take him out” and “an eye for an eye”.
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