Sydney stabbings, riot stoke concerns about social cohesion

Spread of misinformation during incidents prompts proposed curb on social media

- Jonathan Pearlman

A riot in a Sydney suburb sparked by a live-streamed stabbing of a Christian bishop - just two days after an attack at a shopping centre on April 13 - has raised concerns about whether the city's social cohesion is fraying.

The riot occurred in Wakeley, a quiet, culturally diverse suburb that would typically pride itself as a beacon of Australia's multicultural success.

in But this small melting pot which more than 60 per cent of the 5,000 residents were born overseas turned into a cauldron following the April 15 attack on Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel.

The bishop is a well-known Assyrian church leader who has made comments critical of Islam and other religions. The 16-year-old attacker spoke about Prophet Muhammad as he repeatedly stabbed 53-year-old Bishop Emmanuel, as well as another cleric, during a live-streamed sermon.

During counter-terrorism raids across Sydney on April 24, the police arrested seven teenagers, aged 15 to 17, who were reportedly in contact with the attacker.

New South Wales (NSW) Police Deputy Commissioner David Hudson told reporters the youth shared a "religiously motivated violent extremist ideology".

Soon after the stabbing attack, about 2,000 supporters of the bishop flocked to the streets of Wakeley and rioted outside the church, attacking the police as they demanded vengeance.

The riot left 26 officers injured and damaged 94 police vehicles. So far, four people have been charged, and at least 12 others are under investigation.

In a city where riots and flagrant public challenges to police authority are rare, the images of the angry crowds vowing revenge and stomping on police cars have raised concerns about the health of the country's ethnic harmony and famed multiculturalism.

In the aftermath, police deployed extra officers to protect places of worship, and several mosques reportedly received bomb threats.