Sydney shock: Church and mall stabbings leave trail of death and injuries

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

A BISHOP ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHERS – WERE STABBED AT A CHURCH IN WESTERN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA MONDAY.

THE ATTACK COMES TWO DAYS AFTER SIX PEOPLE WERE FATALLY STABBED AT A BUSY SHOPPING MALL IN SYDNEY OVER THE WEEKEND.

A VIDEO MAKING THE ROUNDS ONLINE – SHOWS THE BISHOP IN THE MIDDLE OF PREACHING AT THE GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH IN WESTERN SYDNEY – WHEN HE’S SUDDENLY AMBUSHED BY A KNIFE-WIELDING MAN – WHO APPEARS TO STAB THE BISHOP SEVERAL TIMES.

YOU CAN HEAR PEOPLE SCREAMING – AND SEE SEVERAL ATTEMPTING TO INTERVENE.

NEW SOUTH WALES POLICE POSTED AN UPDATE ON X –

SAYING A MALE SUSPECTED HAS BEEN ARRESTED.

SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO WERE STABBED IN THE RAMPAGE WERE BEING TREATED BY PARAMEDICS BEFORE GOING TO THE HOSPITAL.

POLICE SAY THE INDIVIDUALS SUFFERED NON-LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES.

THE FAIRFIELD DEPUTY MAYOR TOLD NEWS OUTLETS THE BISHOP, AFTER BEING STABBED – GOT UP, PUT HIS HAND ON THE ATTACKER, AND BEGAN PRAYING FOR HIM.

MEANWHILE – POLICE INVESTIGATING THE MALL STABBING ATTACK – SAY THE ATTACKER – IDENTIFIED AS 40-YEAR-OLD JOEL CAUCHI – TARGETED WOMEN.

FIVE WOMEN AND ONE MAN WERE KILLED – AND 12 OTHERS WERE WOUNDED – INCLUDING A BABY.

A POLICE OFFICER STOPPED THE ATTACK BY FATALLY SHOOTING CAUCHI – WHOSE MOTIVE REMAINS UNKNOWN.

INVESTIGATORS SAY – CAUCHI HAD A LONG HISTORY OF MENTAL ILLNESS.

EIGHT PEOPLE REMAIN IN THE HOSPITAL WITH CONDITIONS RANGING FROM STABLE TO CRITICAL.