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A Christian bishop has been stabbed and multiple worshipers injured in an attack at a church in Sydney's west.
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was giving a sermon at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley when he was attacked just after 7pm on Monday.
Emmanuel was promoted as giving an Assyrian Bible preaching that was also being streamed online.
READ MORE: Sydney woman's scary encounter with Bondi stabber weeks before attack
A man was taken into custody and huge crowds quickly gathered outside the church, some people clashing with police.
The four men injured in the stabbing were aged in their 60s, 50s, 30s, and 20s.
Two were taken to Liverpool Hospital: a man in his 50s in a serious condition with multiple cuts, believed to be Emmanuel, and a man in his 30s who also suffered multiple lacerations.
A man in his 20s was treated at the scene for cuts to his hand, and may still be taken to hospital.
The man in his 60s suffered cuts to his arms.
A police officer was also later taken to Westmead Hospital with head injuries.
There were reports the emergency department at Liverpool Hospital was in lockdown, but health authorities have been unable to clarify.
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The Christ The Good Shepherd Church released a statement just before 11pm confirming the bishop and a father were among the injured and asking people to leave the area.
"Dear brothers and sisters, our beloved Bishop, His Grace Mar Mari Emmanuel, and Father Isaac have been admitted to hospital. They are in a stable condition," the church said.
"We ask for your prayers at this time. It is the bishop's and father's wishes that you also pray for the perpetrator.
"We also kindly ask anyone at the church premises to leave in peace, as our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ teaches us."
READ MORE: Sixth victim of Bondi stabbing spree named
Major operation under way
Police said a major operation had been launched in Wakeley, and footage showed officers clashing with a crowd that had gathered outside the church.
Hundreds of people surrounded the church and nearby streets were shut down.
Police were seen using a ladder to break down a door in order to reach ambulance workers who were sheltering behind it.
Riot police deployed pepper spray on the crowd outside the church and there were reports multiple officers had been injured.
Paramedics treated dozens of people for exposure to pepper spray and there were still a significant number of people in the area about 10pm.
Premier disturbed, mayor calls for calm
Premier Chris Minns described the scenes at the church as "disturbing".
"My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and first responders who are working to keep us safe," he said in a statement.
"It's important that the community remain calm and continue to listen and act to the directions of police and emergency services.
"We are a strong community in NSW and it's important that we all stick together, particularly in the face of adversity."
Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone urged the community to "please stay calm".
"I know there is a lot of emotion involved, the bishop is well loved, and I think the best thing the community can do is just say a prayer for the bishop," he told 9News.
"We don't want to see anyone else get injured"
"Please clear the area, let the police do their work, I know this is what the bishop would have wanted."
Carbone said he first heard about the "horrific scenes" on social media.
"It's terrible that such a thing could happen anywhere – doesn't matter if it's a church or shopping centre," he said, referencing the deadly stabbing attack at Bondi Junction at the weekend.
"Our community comes here to Fairfield, we're a diverse community, they come here to escape violence from overseas, they're a very peaceful community, and to have someone do this during a sermon is horrific."
He added that he is "hearing the bishop is doing well".
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Australia released a statement condemning the attack and said they were praying for Emmanuel's recovery.
"The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Australia unequivocally condemns tonight's attack on Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel in the strongest possible terms," IH Kauser, the national president and Grand Imam of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Australia, said.
"We extend our deepest sympathy to all those injured in the attack and wish them a speedy and complete recovery."
Emmanuel is popular but divisive among the Orthodox community, and many of his sermons are shared online.
He attracted attention during the coronavirus lockdown in June 2021 when he criticised the restrictions and vaccine mandates.
There is no indication what sparked tonight's attack.
NSW Police confirmed a man had been taken into custody.
READ MORE: Sydney woman's scary encounter with Bondi stabber weeks before attack
"Officers arrested a male and he is assisting police with inquiries," a statement said.
"The injured people suffered non-life threatening injuries and are being treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics.
"A large police response is under way and the public is urged to avoid the area."
The attack comes just days after six people were stabbed to death in Sydney's Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre.
There is no indication these two events are linked.
