Australian Police Declares Sydney Church Stabbing 'Terrorist Act'
The Facts
New South Wales Police said Tuesday that remarks from the 15-year-old boy detained over a knife attack at the Assyrian Orthodox Christ the Good Shepherd Church indicate the assault was a religiously-motivated terrorist act.
This comes as four people, including Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, were injured in a caught-on-camera stabbing during a mass in Sydney's western suburb of Wakeley the previous evening.
The Spin
Narrative A
This is a deeply tragic event that must be deeply investigated. Although the motive of the attacker remains unclear, Emmanuel was a polarizing figure and this could have been a personal attack. There are many potential angles that must be probed to the fullest.
Narrative B
Too little was covered by mainstream news outlets to investigate if this was an attack on the Christian faith, but police have made the right decision. Although still in the early stages, it's vital to explore fully how hate crimes against Emmanuel's faith were a motivating factor in this heinous attack.