An attack on a religious leader during a sermon in a suburb of Sydney, Australia, on Monday has been deemed a terror-related incident, police said.
“Anyone with information about extremist activity or possible threats to the community should come forward, no matter how small or insignificant you may think the information may be,” the New South Wales Police Force said in a statement on Tuesday.
The government’s Joint Counter Terrorism Team has begun an investigation into the stabbing, which was first reported to police at about 7 p.m. on Monday.
A 16-year-old suspect was arrested at the scene after being restrained by members of the congregation, police said. He was hospitalized, underwent surgery for injuries sustained during the alleged attack and remained under police guard, they said.
A video of the incident, which was viewed by ABC News, appears to show a man approaching the religious leader as he speaks to his congregation. The man appears to interrupt the sermon and to begin violently attacking the man.
Officer who responded to the church on Welcome Road attended to a 53-year-old man “with lacerations to his head,” police said. The man’s name has not been released.
