Community told to leave vigil at Liverpool Hospital as Bishop recovers

Religious communities condemn attack on Assyrian bishop

Members of the Assyrian community have been asked to leave a vigil outside of a Sydney hospital, where Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel is recovering from a terrorist attack.

The beloved Bishop is being treated at Liverpool Hospital after he received non-life-threatening injuries when he was stabbed while live-streaming a sermon last night.

Community members have been gathering outside the hospital since last night to pray for the Bishop’s recovery, but the church has this afternoon asked them to leave.

Community members started gathering outside of the hospital last night to pray for the Bishop’s recovery, with some returning today.

“Mar Mari Emmanuel humbly asks everyone to respect his privacy and the safety of others at this time. Please allow the authorities to complete their duties,” a statement issue by the church reads.

“We urge anyone present at the Liverpool Hospital to vacate the premises for the love and safety of our beloved Bishop.”

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested following the attack.

The church issued a similar statement after the attack when hundreds of community members gathered outside Christ the Good Shepard Church, outraged by the attack.

“Our church was inundated…flooded with on lookers and visits from locals who came in support of the Bishop,” the statement said.

“Regretfully, many of these defied instructions to leave when police were required to commence investigating the incident.

“After numerous attempts by police (and the) cergy to peacefully disband visitors, police took necessary steps to disperse groups.”

A constable was hit with a metal object and suffered a twisted knee and a chipped tooth.

Another constable sustained injuries to his face after being with a brick and a fence paling.

NSW Police reported that his jaw was broken at the time of the alleged attack, however, that is not the case.

He has sustained facial injuries, including swelling and bruising.

Both police officers have been discharged from the hospital.

Police have declared the stabbing as a terrorist attack and are investigating with the help of the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team.