(SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA) — Maronite church-goers in Sydney, Australia are left shaken after four assailants in a vehicle bearing the flag of the Islamic State drove past Our Lady of Lebanon Church shouting death threats, according to media reports.
“Four youth in an unknown car and waving the flag of ISIL drove by the church threatening church-goers with murder and with slaughtering their children,” Monseigneur Shora Maree said.
Maree says he contacted police ahead of the church’s 7pm mass on Wednesday night. Officers were sent down to patrol the Harris Park church while hundreds took part in mass inside.
The assailants caused panic among people as the Australian police is investigating the incident to identify the four youth.
“This is now in the hands of police who are fully investigating. Please do not respond to or circulate any other version of the truth on social media as it creates unnecessary panic,” Maree said in a social media statement.
On Thursday, Australia’s largest ever counter-terrorism raids detained 15 people and foiled a plot by Islamic State jihadists to conduct “demonstration killings”, reportedly including beheading a member of the public on camera.
The Australian government believes up to 60 Australians are fighting alongside jihadists for Islamic State, while another 100 were actively working to support the movement at home.
The latest raids followed the arrests of two people last week in Brisbane who were charged with allegedly recruiting, funding and sending jihadist fighters to Syria.