Sydney teen accused of stabbing 2 clerics showed no signs of radicalization, Muslim leader says

SYDNEY (AP) — A 16-year-old boy accused of stabbing 2 Christian clerics during a Sydney religion work mightiness person “anger guidance and behavioral issues” and a “short fuse” but had shown no signs of being radicalized, a organization leader said Thursday, aft authorities declared nan stabbing a violent attack.

The teen said successful Arabic astir nan Prophet Muhammad being insulted aft he stabbed Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel and nan Rev. Isaac Royel during Monday night’s Assyrian Orthodox service, which was being streamed online.

The bishop released an audio connection connected Thursday saying that he was “doing fine, recovering very quickly” and that he forgave his attacker.

Jamal Rifi, a Sydney expert and Muslim organization leader, said nan boy had apologized erstwhile his family visited him astatine a infirmary connected Tuesday and Wednesday.

“He kept apologizing to his mum and saying sorry and each that benignant of thing, and he showed remorse for what he did,” Rifi told Sydney Radio 2GB. Rifi said he said connected Wednesday pinch nan teenager’s parents, sister and an uncle who each condemned nan boy’s actions. The family had relocated from their location since nan onslaught to debar retaliation.

The teen’s mother told Rifi that “he ever listened to music, he played nan drums, he really danced to nan music. A extremist personification ... would not do that.” Rifi added that nan family didn’t spot immoderate signs of radicalization.

“She said that he had problem successful his life, had anger guidance issues, a short fuse and for nary valid reasons, he conscionable gets angry,” he added.

The teen had seen 3 psychologists, a schoolhouse counsellor and had an assignment to spot a psychiatrist. The mother was told her boy mightiness person a “an autism spectrum upset aliases anger guidance and behavioral issues, but location is nary clear diagnosis,” Rifi said.

According to media reports, nan boy had been convicted successful January of a scope of offenses, including possession of a switchblade knife, being equipped pinch a limb pinch an volition to perpetrate an indictable offense, stalking, intimidation and damaging property. He was released from tribunal connected a bully behaviour bond, but had been expelled from schoolhouse for bringing a weapon to class.

The teen sustained terrible manus injuries erstwhile parishioners successful Christ nan Good Shepherd Church overpowered him. He is apt to stay successful an undisclosed infirmary nether constabulary defender for respective days. He has yet to beryllium charged.

Police say while nan onslaught could beryllium classified arsenic a violent enactment nether New South Wales law, that did not mean nan boy would beryllium charged pinch coercion offenses.

A crowd of up to 600 group converged connected nan religion aft nan attack, immoderate demanding that constabulary manus complete nan boy. Hours of rioting led to 51 constabulary officers being injured. Sydney mosques besides received firebomb threats.

The bishop utilized his connection to telephone for calm aft nan attack, which was Australia’s second high-profile weapon attack successful a week, aft a man stabbed six group to decease astatine a engaged Sydney shopping halfway connected Saturday earlier he was fatally shot

“The Lord Jesus ne'er said spell retired and conflict successful nan street, ne'er said to retaliate, but to pray. And this is what I’m asking everyone to do,” Emmanuel said.

“I forgive whoever has done this act. And I opportunity to him, you are my son, I emotion you and I will ever believe for you. And whoever sent you to do this, I forgive them arsenic well,” nan bishop said.

Royel, nan injured priest, near a infirmary connected Wednesday and was interviewed by detectives astatine his location connected Thursday, media reported.(backslash)

___

Rod McGuirk contributed to this study from Melbourne.