Australia: Teens planned to buy guns, attack Jewish people after Sydney bishop was stabbed

The police in Australia uncovered a sinister plot where four teenagers had planned to buy guns and attack Jewish people, reported the Australian media citing official documents, on Monday (Apr 29). The plot reportedly surfaced days after a teenager allegedly stabbed Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel at a church, earlier this month.

What were the teenagers planning?

Five teenagers, aged between 14 and 17, were charged with a range of offences including conspiring to engage in or planning a terrorist act, on Thursday (Apr 25) in a Sydney court, reported the Associated Press.

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According to the documents, four boys, a 15-year-old, a 16-year-old and two 17-year-olds allegedly used Signal, an encrypted messaging app to plan their attack. The police also alleged that they all “adhered to a religiously motivated, violent extremist ideology”.

Also Read |Australian police arrest 7 teen extremists linked to Sydney church stabbing

The law enforcement officials said they were part of a network which included the 16-year-old who allegedly stabbed Emmanuel on April 15 during a church service.

“I wanna die and I wanna kill...I’m just excited...Is your plan to get caught or die or escape?” a 17-year-old allegedly said in a group chat on 20 April, as quoted by the AP.

“We’re gonna be planning for a while...we prefer to escape, but whatever happens, it’s the qadr (predetermination) of Allah,” a 16-year-old allegedly responded.

In a separate conversation, on April 19, a 15-year-old allegedly said, “I really want to target the yahood,” meaning Jewish people.

The 16-year-old allegedly said “I know the bloke who done it,” referring to the teenager who allegedly stabbed the bishop, adding “he’s my mate.”

Plot to buy guns

The Australian media, citing a police fact sheet, said two of the defendants discussed buying guns on April 19, the day that the 16-year-old who allegedly stabbed the bishop was charged.

Notably, Australia has strict laws against gun ownership, but Sydney reportedly has a black market for firearms.

The teens were among those arrested by the Australian police in raids across Sydney, last week, for allegedly following a violent extremist ideology.

New South Wales Police Deputy Commissioner David Hudson, on Wednesday (Apr 24) said that the raids which involved over 400 police officers who executed 13 search warrants took place as the suspects were considered an immediate threat.

Emmanuel'sfirst sermon after stabbing

The Assyrian bishop returned to the church on Sunday (Apr 28) and spoke about losing sight in his right eye after the attack.

The 53-year-old bishop was seen in the church wearing an eyepatch and delivering sermons marking the Assyrian Orthodox Palm Sunday.

“This young man who did this act almost two weeks ago, I say to you, my dear, you are my son and you will always be my son,” said Emmanuel in comments posted on social media.

He added, “I will always pray for you. I will always wish you nothing but the best.”

Also Read |Sydney church stabbing: 16-year-old charged for allegedly ‘committing a terrorist act’

On Sunday, the parents of the alleged attacker spoke publicly for the first time in an interview with ABC News.

They detailed what happened that day as well as their son’s ‘serious anger management issues and history of violence.’

The investigation also found that before the attack, the alleged perpetrator had been interacting with extremists online and had a suspected autism spectrum disorder.

His parents maintained that their son was not a terrorist. The report citing an expert said that teenager’s longstanding mental health concerns and a suspected cognitive disorder left him vulnerable to radicalisation.

(With inputs from agencies)