Police in Australia have arrested seven youngsters who posed an “unacceptable threat and risk” to the neighborhood within the wake of the stabbing of a bishop in a Sydney church.

The youngsters, all aged between 15 and 17, are accused of being a part of a community that follows a violent extremist ideology.

That community included a 16-year-old who has been charged with committing a terrorist act after Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was stabbed throughout a service on the Assyrian Christ the Good Shepherd Church on 16 April.

Following the alleged terrorist assault, New South Wales Police deputy commissioner David Hudson stated “a variety of associates have been recognized” which authorities believed warranted additional police consideration.

An investigation was launched by the Joint Counter-Terrorism Group, which includes federal and state police in addition to Australia’s nationwide safety company and which specialises in extremists and organised crime.

“We are going to allege that these people adhered to a religiously motivated, violent extremist ideology,” Mr Hudson stated.

“It was thought of that the group… posed an unacceptable threat and risk to the folks of New South Wales, and our present purely investigative methods couldn’t adequately guarantee public security.”

Learn extra:
Sydney bishop forgives alleged attacker
Father of boy accused of stabbing noticed no indicators of extremism

Greater than 400 law enforcement officials executed 13 search warrants at properties throughout southwest Sydney through the investigation however no proof of particular targets or timing of an meant “violent act” was discovered, police stated.

5 different youngsters are nonetheless being questioned by the Joint Counter-Terrorism Group.

It comes after an Australian Federal Courtroom decide prolonged an order banning social media platform X from exhibiting movies of the bishop being repeatedly stabbed.

Justice Geoffrey Kennett prolonged the ban, which the courtroom put in place on Monday, till 10 Might.

The ban was met with criticism from X chief govt Elon Musk, who accused Australia of censorship.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese later berated Musk, calling him an “boastful billionaire who thinks he is above the regulation”.

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