The 16-year-old boy accused of stabbing a bishop in Sydney will appear before court in a bedside hearing today, New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb said .
She was giving an update after the teenager was charged with a terrorist offence over the stabbing at a church in Wakeley on Monday.
“We expect he will be attending a bedside court hearing today to determine bail. This relates to the stabbing of the Bishop (Mar Mari Emmanual, who) we allege on Monday night (was) stabbed up to six times,” Webb said.
“We also allege that the boy had travelled for 90 minutes to attend that location from his home address.”
Webb also said she remained concerned about misinformation being shared through social media on platforms including TikTok and WhatsApp.
She said the police would be out in force to keep the community safe.
“The source of information should be from police and law enforcement and if people have concerns they should check our websites, socials and any other direct news from law enforcement about current information.
“If we have current credible information about a threat to the community, we will let them know. We will share that with the community.”
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw, speaking alongside Webb, said the alleged acts by the accused met the Commonwealth definition of a terrorist act.
He said police would be meeting with community leaders in the coming days to provide assurances about public safety.
“We are working with pace and laser-like precision … the terrorist threat in Australia has not changed following this incident,” he said.
“Our national terrorism threat level is still at “possible”. All Australians should be vigilant.”
The teenager was detained by worshippers at the Christ the Good Shepherd Church before being arrested by police and taken to a medical facility for treatment.
Emmanuel, 53, suffered significant head injuries. Father Isaac Royel also suffered lacerations and a shoulder wound when he attempted to intervene, police said.
The charge of committing a terrorist act carries a maximum penalty of imprisonment for life.
