Sydney Teen Faces New Charges in Church Terrorist Attack

A 16-year-old boy accused of a terrorist act by stabbing a bishop in a Sydney church faces two additional charges. He was arrested at the scene where the act was streamed online. Police have identified evidence on his phone, and several others linked to him have also been arrested.

In a dramatic turn of events, a 16-year-old boy accused of committing a terrorist act by stabbing a bishop in a Sydney church now faces two additional charges, a court was informed on Friday.

The teen, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, was apprehended at the crime scene on April 15 in an Assyrian Orthodox church, as the service was being broadcast live online.

The initial charge of committing a terrorist act holds a potential life sentence, and the newly added charges carry maximum penalties of 25 years each. The prosecutor in Parramatta Children's Court revealed that the boy had now been charged with wounding with the intent to murder Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel and for causing grievous bodily harm to a priest, Rev. Isaac Royel. Although both clerics survived, their injuries were not deemed life-threatening.

The investigation revealed a substantial amount of evidence, including 52,000 images and 7,500 videos, found on the boy's phone. Prosecutors plan to present this final evidence within the next six weeks.

The boy remains in custody, having not applied for bail on Friday. The incident also triggered chaos outside the Christ The Good Shepherd Church and a wide-ranging investigation involving both police and Australia's main domestic intelligence agency.

Authorities have also apprehended six other boys, aged between 14 and 17, alleged to be part of the same network. They reportedly adhered to a religiously motivated, violent extremist ideology and plotted subsequent attacks, including one targeting Jewish individuals.

Meanwhile, 29 people have been charged with rioting offenses linked to the chaos outside the church on April 15. The riot resulted in 51 injured police officers and substantial property damage, as 104 police vehicles were damaged.