A tenth man who allegedly rioted outside a western Sydney church after stabbing a bishop has been charged.
The melee broke out in the suburb of Wakeley, 35km west of Sydney’s CBD, after the suspected terrorist attack on Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, 53, on April 15.
Officers attached to Strike Force Dribs carried out a search warrant at a house on Milton Street, Granville, on Saturday in connection with the riot.
A 27-year-old man was arrested at the residence and several items believed to be related to the Wakeley incident were seized.
The man was taken to Granville police station where he was accused of rioting and throwing a missile at a police officer during a public disturbance.
He was refused bail to appear in Parramatta Local Court on Sunday.
A tenth man (pictured centre) who allegedly rioted outside a western Sydney church after stabbing a bishop has been charged.
The latest arrest of a suspected rioter follows the arrest of seven youths during counter-terrorism raids, which were also a response to last week’s church stabbing attacks.
More than 400 members of a joint counter-terrorism team from state and federal police forces began breaking down the doors of 13 homes in Sydney’s southwest about 11.15am on Wednesday.
The attack on Bishop Emmanuel at the Assyrian Church of Christ the Good Shepherd was declared a religiously motivated terrorist incident.
The people arrested were aged 15, 16 and 17.
“We allege these individuals adhere to a religiously motivated violent extremist ideology,” NSW Police Deputy Commissioner David Hudson said.
“These investigations have progressed since the incident, with investigations including comprehensive surveillance activities and extensive examination of these individuals.”
The counter-terrorism team said those arrested “posed an unacceptable risk to the people of New South Wales”.
“Our current, purely investigative strategies cannot adequately ensure public safety,” Commissioner Hudson said.
“As a result, we determined that we needed to step up our activities and that overt action was necessary.
“I can assure the community that there is no ongoing threat to the community, and the actions we have taken today have mitigated any risk of future or further harm.”
Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett stressed that the arrests were not racially or religiously motivated.
“I want to be very clear: we are targeting crime, not countries. We are targeting radicalization, not religion,” she said.
“We are asking Australians to remain vigilant. I urge people who see or hear something that does not seem right to contact the National Security Hotline immediately.
Officers attached to Strike Force Dribs carried out a search warrant at a house on Milton Street, Granville, on Saturday in connection with the riot.
A 27-year-old man was arrested at the scene and several items believed to be linked to the incident in Wakeley were seized.
The raids took place in Bankstown, Prestons, Casula, Lurnea, Rydalmere, Greenacre, Strathfield, Chester Hill and Punchbowl, as well as at a property in Goulburn, 195km southwest of Sydney.
A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, is accused of stabbing Bishop Emmanuel during a live-streamed sermon in front of parishioners.
He was accused of terrorism and refused bail.
Police use of the term terrorism indicates that authorities believe the incident was religiously or politically motivated.
Witnesses to the attack on the bishop said the alleged perpetrator used the Islamic phrase “Allahu Akbar” and allegedly said in Arabic that Bishop Emmanuel had denigrated “my prophet.”
The man (left) was taken to Granville police station where he was charged with rioting and throwing a missile at a police officer during a public disturbance.
The stabbing sparked a massive riot outside the church, with around 2,000 people chanting “Get him out” and “an eye for an eye”.
Police kept the suspected terrorist inside the church during the protest, fearing for his safety.
Dozens of police officers were injured and police property was damaged during the riot, with some officers and paramedics forced to take shelter inside the church.
Crime Stoppers NSW 1800 333 000
National Security Hotline 1800 123 400
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