Sydney church shooting: Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel hailed as ‘wonderful’ and ‘loved’ by Danny Abdallah – father of Oatland tragedy victims – in wake of shocking scenes during church sermon
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Danny Abdallah, father of the victims of the Oatlands crash tragedy, has spoken out after a popular bishop he has known for years was attacked in a stabbing.
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel preached at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley in Sydney’s west on Monday just after 1pm. 19, when a man dressed in black walked up to the altar and stabbed him several times.
There are also reports of several others being taken to hospital as a tense situation unfolds in nearby streets.
Abdallah, who is a devout Christian, said he cannot understand why anyone would want to hurt him.
‘He is a respected man in the community. He is loved by the entire Assyrian community, especially,” he said.
Bishop Emmanuel has been described as ‘wonderful’ and ‘loved’ by his congregation
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was preaching at The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley in Sydney’s west on Monday night when a man dressed in black walked up to the altar and stabbed him several times (pictured)
Danny Abdallah says he has known the bishop for years and described him as ‘respected’
‘He is a wonderful priest. He lives to serve others and help people.
‘What happened tonight was just devastating.
‘I don’t know why anyone would do that. It doesn’t make sense, he’s a very peaceful man.’
Abdallah and his wife Leila’s children Antony, 13, Angelina, 12, Sienna, eight, and their niece Veronique Sakr, 11, were walking on a footpath to buy ice cream in Oatlands, in Sydney’s west, when they were hit by a car and killed on 1 February 2020.
The driver, Samuel Davidson, was under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time. He is serving 20 years in prison.
Despite the terrible tragedy and the anger he felt, he publicly forgave Davidson, crediting his faith for giving him the courage to do so.
Elsewhere, NSW Police have urged members of the public to avoid the area around the church following the attack, while there are also reports that Liverpool Hospital has been closed due to rioting.
Worshipers outside the church in the aftermath of the stabbing as tensions threatened to boil over
The suspect and the injured Bishop have been taken to two different hospitals in Sydney’s west, both reportedly with non-life threatening injuries.
Footage on social media shows angry worshipers outside Christ The Good Shepherd Church, with some heard shouting ‘an eye for an eye’ after the attack.
Video then circulated of the alleged attacker being restrained by churchgoers.