Sydney boy who allegedly attacked bishop formally charged with terrorism
The young man has a history of crimes involving knives, and has even consulted three psychologists and a school counselor, and has scheduled an appointment with a psychiatrist.
© Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images
Mundo Austrália
The 16-year-old who stabbed two clergy during a religious service in Sydney, Australia, has been formally charged with terrorism by authorities.
The attack was deemed an act of terrorism amid suspicions the teen was religiously motivated and had traveled 90 minutes to the Our Lady of the Assumption Assyrian Church in the suburb of Wakeley, the Associated Press reported.
The teen allegedly yelled “Allahu akbar” and “the prophet Mohammed has been insulted” in Arabic after he stabbed Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel and Father Isaac Royel on Monday night, the outlet reported. He was then restrained by parishioners, suffering serious hand injuries.
“Investigators attended a medical facility yesterday to interview the alleged offender, where he was charged with carrying out a terrorist act,” NSW Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw told reporters during a news conference Friday.
The teen, who faces a maximum penalty of life in prison, did not appear in a children’s court on Friday when his case was briefly mentioned.
The teen has a history of knife-related offenses and had seen three psychologists and a school counselor, and had an appointment booked with a psychiatrist, his lawyer Greg Scragg said.
The defense lawyer also said the teen had a “long history of behavioral issues” consistent with a mental illness or intellectual disability. The magistrate ordered a mental health assessment of the teen while he remains in custody. The teen will then be transferred to a juvenile detention center until his next court appearance on June 14.
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel said Thursday that he was “doing well” and forgave his attacker, while also calling for calm.
The incident came two days after a separate stabbing rampage left six people dead at a shopping mall in Sydney.
Read Also: “Perdoo”. Bispo atacado em “ato terrorista” em Sydney quebra silêncio (Portuguese version)
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