Church stabbing Sydney, Wakeley: Police address rumour boy's finger was cut off after he allegedly stabbed bishop

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A 16-year-old boy who allegedly stabbed a bishop during a livestreamed sermon is understood to have accidentally cut off one of his fingers during the attack. 

It's understood one of the teenager's fingers was severed after he allegedly attacked Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel at the Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, in Sydney's west, at about 7pm on Monday. 

Police confirmed the alleged assailant had serious hand injuries and that he and the bishop had undergone surgery on Tuesday morning. 

It is understood that Father Isaac Royel, who serves in the Assyrian ministry at St Shimun Bar Sabbae and St Mary Cathedral, was among those injured.

After the attack, around 2000 parishioners and local supporters swarmed around the church as they sought out the alleged attacker, with riots breaking out as police tried to impose order.

Crowds also formed at Liverpool Hospital after at least some of those injured at the church were taken there for treatment.

It is understood the hospital went into lockdown as a result.

Christian leader Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was allegedly being attacked at the Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley on Monday night

Footage has emerged of the alleged attacker being pinned down on his front by at least three people, including a police officer, as he smiled and appeared to mock his captors

Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was helped by churchgoers after the alleged attack (pictured)

Alleged attack

Shocking footage of the alleged attack showed the bishop speaking at the church's pulpit when a male dressed in black calmly walked toward him.

The bishop, who was looking down, only noticed the alleged attacker at the last moment and put his hands up to block the hand coming down in a stabbing motion to the face and neck.

The bishop then fell to the ground.

Screams were heard from the crowd, as several people rushed forward to try to help.

The footage was taken from a livestream from the church's YouTube page.

Some of those injured during the attack were rushed to Liverpool Hospital (pictured) which went into lockdown after large crowds formed outside

Angry crowds gathered in southwestern Sydney following the stabbing attack

An injured police officer at the scene of the Wakeley stabbing

Rumours boy's finger cut off

NSW Police gave an update in the early hours of the morning on Tuesday where they confirmed that the alleged attacker was known to police and was not a regular attendee of the church.

Acting assistant commissioner Andrew Holland said the boy had initially been apprehended by worshippers but police had taken him to an 'undisclosed location'.

He had asked to speak with his parents.

Comm Holland was also asked about rumours that the boy had fingers cut off immediately after the attack as he was being held down by multiple people.

One man, with blood on his jeans, was seen straddling the alleged attacker's head with his legs.

The video also showed the boy apparently smiling at the camera.

'Reports are that he has injuries to his hands - I don't know the extent of those injuries at this point,' Comm Holland said.

'His injuries are quite severe in his hand, he's fairly upset and fairly distraught.'

Riots erupted following the alleged stabbing with video posted to social media showing police vehicles and ambulances damaged.

Police said officers were continuing to 'work on restoring order' following the riots and will continue to monitor places of worship throughout the night.

Crowds formed outside Liverpool Hospital as injured worshippers received treatment

Chaos erupts 

In a statement, the church confirmed that another prominent member of its community Father Isaac Royel was among the injured.

'We ask for your prayers at this time,' the statement read.

'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.'

Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone said the alleged attack was 'horrific' and he understood people were 'distraught', but he also called for calm.

'I understand that many people are upset, and justifiably so,' he told Sky News.

'I feel for everybody that witnessed that (stabbing) but I do call for calm.

'The police will do their job and please let's not make the police's job any harder.'

Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone called for calm amid the chaotic scenes in Sydney's west

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns described the scene as 'disturbing'.

'I have received a briefing from the Commissioner of Police and NSW Health on the situation,' he said in a statement.

'My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and first responders who are working to keep us safe.

'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.'

A NSW Ambulance spokesman told NCA NewsWire a man aged in his fifties was taken to Liverpool Hospital with multiple stab wounds.

The attack on the bishop comes just three days after six people were killed during a stabbing massacre at Sydney's Bondi Junction Westfield shopping centre

Three other people were also injured - a man aged in his thirties suffered multiple lacerations, a man in his twenties received a cut to his hand, and a man in his sixties had wounds on an arm.

'Officers attached to Fairfield City Police Area Command, supported by multiple police resources from a number of commands and specialist units, attended,' police said in a statement.

'A male was arrested and remains in police custody.

'The injured individuals suffered non-life threatening injuries and were treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being conveyed to hospital.'

The attack on the bishop came just three days after a knife attack across town at Westfield Bondi Junction left six people dead.

READ MORE: Follow Daily Mail Australia's live coverage of the Sydney church stabbing here

Large crowds are seen outside the Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley