Men Waving Islamic State Flags Threaten Maronite Church in Sydney
9/18/2014 12:59:52 PM
Four men shouted out threats to kill Christians and brandished the Islamic State flag as they drove past the Maronite Our Lady of Lebanon Church in Sydney, according to Maronite Catholic parish priest Monsignor Shora Maree.
The priest immediately called the police and reported the incident.
"They were strong words and people were scared of what they saw," he said.
In a statement, Our Lady of Lebanon Church parish priest Mons Shora Maree said:
"On Tuesday afternoon there was a single incident were by a verbal threat was made by a single passing motorist to a MCHF College staff members," it read.
"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," it noted.
Witnesses told police there was a small triangular flag placed out the window with Arabic words similar to "there is only one god and Muhammad is the prophet".
Rosehill police Inspector Brian Jackson confirmed "some threats were made in regard to some people" near the church.
Nearby shop owners also testified the incident, while tight security measures were taken around an event held for fundraising aids to Iraqi Christians.
The police is now investigating assailants behind the threat.
On the other side, Australia's largest ever counter-terrorism raids on Thursday 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.
A major pre-dawn operation was carried out across Sydney and Brisbane by more than 800 officers acting on some 25 search warrants. One person has so far been charged with serious terrorism-related offences and was to appear in court later in the day.