Sabra Lane: The parents of the 16-year-old accused of stabbing a Sydney bishop have spoken publicly for the first time. They've told the ABC about their son's serious anger management issues, long-standing mental health concerns and suspected autism spectrum disorder. ABC Investigations has also discovered the boy was allegedly interacting with extremists in Australia and following violent extremist accounts online in the months before the attack. Sean Rubinsztein-Dunlop has the story. Sean, you've talked with the family of the teenager who's accused of attacking Archbishop Mar Mari Emmanuel. What have they told you about their son?
Sean Rubinsztein-Dunlop: Yeah, we spoke to the parents from a secret location. They're still in hiding for fear of reprisals after that attack caused riots two weeks ago. Now, this interview, which is being aired on the 7.30 program tonight, was highly emotional as you could expect. They sobbed as they expressed relief that Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel survived that attack and they thanked police for protecting their son in the ensuing riot. But they insist the 16-year-old is no terrorist. They paint a picture of a boy with severe behavioural issues, a history of violence and suspected autism spectrum disorder. And now community leaders like Dr Jamal Rifi are urging police and the courts to take mental health into account.
Dr Jamal Rifi: What he did is totally inexcusable. We're not looking for him to be exonerated. We just wanted to have a fair go, the same as any other young person in similar circumstances with undiagnosed mental illness.
Sabra Lane: Sean, what else has your investigation uncovered about the teenager's background?
Sean Rubinsztein-Dunlop: We discovered the boy had interacted with extremists in Sydney in the months leading up to the attack and was following violent extremist social media accounts. He liked videos of terrorists like Osama bin Laden promoting dying for the cause. And on the evening of the attack, he posted to Instagram, the boy that is, calling on the faithful to open their eyes to disbelievers and quote, attain victory over their enemies. Here's what de-radicalisation expert Dr Peta Lowe had to say about that.
Dr Peta Lowe: It's very common for individuals to have what they call leakage just as they approach actually conducting an attack. So it was a very clear message that he had got to the point where he was motivated to act on his beliefs.
Sabra Lane: Sean, police have made a number of arrests breaking up an alleged terror network linked to this teen. What more do we know about that?
Sean Rubinsztein-Dunlop: Yes, Sabra. Police last week arrested a number of boys they allege are part of a so-called terrorist network with this 16 year old. Six of them have been charged, some with preparing, conspiring to prepare for a terrorist act. Now we've uncovered suspicions that this alleged terror network has ties to terrorism cells dating back about two decades. Now most recently to the cell behind the Curtis Cheng attack. That was the 2015 shooting by a 15 year old boy of police accountant Curtis Cheng at the New South Wales police headquarters. Last week police questioned a former Islamic state member and violent criminal who was alleged to be a member of that terror cell Wassim Fayad. Now he's a 56 year old Sydney man who was released from a seven year jail sentence back in 2020 and placed on a terrorism extended control order. But a judge refused to extend that early last year. And now police are investigating whether he's resumed his support for terrorism groups again. We should note he hasn't been charged. He was only questioned and this investigation has a long way to go.
Sabra Lane: Sean Rubinsztein-Dunlop and you can see Sean's report on 7.30 tonight on ABC TV or on ABC's iView.
