Boy accused of terror attack at Sydney church faces new charges for stabbing bishop, priest

SYDNEY (AP) — 16-year-old boy accused of committing terrorist act by stab a bishop in a Sydney church in April faces two additional charges, a court heard on Friday.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested at the scene The story of the stabbing that occurred on April 15 in an Assyrian Orthodox church during a service was broadcast online.

The earlier charge of committing a terrorist act carries a possible life sentence, while the new charges carry a maximum sentence of 25 years each.

A prosecutor told Parramatta Children's Court on Friday the boy had also been charged with wounding with intent to kill Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to a priest, the Revd Isaac Royel. Neither cleric suffered life-threatening injuries.

Police have identified 52,000 images and 7,500 videos from the boy's phone which could be used as evidence in terrorism prosecutions.

Prosecutors hope to provide defense attorneys with final evidence within six weeks.

The boy did not apply for bail on Friday and remains in custody.

The stabbing sparked a riot outside Christ the Good Shepherd Church and a major investigation involving police and Australia's main domestic spy agency.

Police also arrested six other boys aged 14 to 17 who they say are part of the 16-year-old's network. Police say they “all adhered to a violent and religiously motivated extremist ideology.”

The six allegedly plotted buy weapons and attack the Jewish people after the bishop was stabbed. They were charged with various offenses, including conspiracy to commit or plan a terrorist act.

Police said Thursday that 29 people had been charged over riots outside and in a church on April 15 and that others identified from video footage were being sought.

The riots left 51 police officers injured and 104 police vehicles damaged.