A 16-year-old boy has been charged with a terrorism offence today, following an investigation by the Joint Counter Terrorism Team Sydney into an alleged stabbing at a Sydney church.
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 significant injuries to his head.
A 39-year-old man also sustained lacerations and a shoulder wound when he attempted to intervene.
A 16-year-old boy, who had been restrained by members of the public, was arrested by police.
This afternoon (Thursday 18 April 2024), investigators from the Joint Counter Terrorism Team Sydney attended a medical facility to interview the boy, before he was charged with committing a terrorist act under section 101.1 Criminal Code Act (Commonwealth) 1995, an offence which carries a maximum penalty of imprisonment for life.
He has been refused bail and is expected to appear before a bedside court hearing tomorrow (Friday 19 April 2024).
The Joint Counter Terrorism Team Sydney is comprised of members from the NSW Police Force, Australian Federal Police, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and 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 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.
