Police have deemed the stabbing at a Sydney church on Monday night a terrorist attack.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said the southwest Sydney church stabbing was a "terrorist act" in a media standup.
A 15-year-old has been arrested for allegedly stabbing Bishop Mari Mari Emmanuel and other worshippers who intervened.
The teenager is known to police but not on any terror watchlist.
"He wasn't known to us from a terrorism point of view, he was not on any terror watchlist...This is the first time this individual has come to our attention in this manner," NSW Commissioner Karen Webb said.
She is speaking with Australia's counterterrorism team about the stabbing.
"The things that influenced my decision to declare this a terrorist incident was the actions of the individual who attended, we will allege attended that church ... armed with a knife and stabbed the bishop and priest.
"We believe there are elements that are satisfied in terms of religious-motivated incident."
Webb said it's alleged he also made "certain comments" that were "centred around religion" when approaching the priest.
The bishop and priest are in surgery and "lucky to be alive", Webb said.
Following the stabbing, the teen was taken by police to a secure area of the church.
This sparked an angry gathering of church supporters outside the building. Police used shields to protect themselves from protesting crowds.
Rioters who attacked police "can expect a knock on the door", Webb said.
"They can expect to be prosecuted."
