The NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) will investigate the stabbing of religious leaders at a church in Sydney’s south-west overnight.
About 7.10pm on Monday (15 April 2024), police were called to a church on the corner of Box Road and Welcome Street, Wakeley, following reports of a stabbing.
Officers attached to Fairfield City Police Area Command attended and found a 53-year-old man with lacerations to his head. A 39-year-old man also sustained lacerations and a shoulder wound when he attempted to intervene.
They were treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to Liverpool Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
A 16-year-old boy, who had been restrained by members of the public, was arrested by police. He remains in hospital, under police guard.
A declaration by NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb APM has deemed the incident terror related.
The NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) investigation will be led by the NSW Police Force under Operation Kilchurn.
The NSW JCTT comprises members from the NSW Police Force, Australian Federal Police, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation 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 may think the information may be. The National Security Hotline is 1800 123 400.
Anyone with information about criminal activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
