The Rev. Isaac Royel, the other cleric who was wounded in a stabbing incident at the Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Sydney's Wakeley suburb that also injured Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, has been discharged from hospital days after a teenager stabbed him, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb told local media on Tuesday (Apr. 16) that police believe the attack on the two clerics was premeditated.
"We will allege [the suspect] attended that church armed with a knife and stabbed the bishop and priest..." she said. "We believe there are elements that are satisfied in terms of religious motivated extremism."
In a statement, the church said that Bishop Emmanuel suffered several blows to the head and body, while Royel was also injured.
No one else inside the church was harmed, the statement added.
In the aftermath of the knife attack, angry members of the community converged on the church and eventually became riotous, police told 9 News.
Bishop Emmanuel remains in the hospital in stable condition.
