Australian Prime Minister stands up for multiculturalism following two stabbing incidents
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stressed the need to nurture multiculturalism and always show respect towards each other. He made these remarks amid concerns about social cohesion in light of recent stabbing attacks in Sydney.
On April 13, a 40-year-old man carried out a stabbing spree at a Westfield shopping centre in Bondi Junction, resulting in six deaths and multiple injuries. The attacker, who had a history of mental illness, was diagnosed with schizophrenia at a young age.
Two days later, a 16-year-old boy, who had recently converted to Islam, allegedly stabbed an Assyrian bishop during a livestream service at a church in Western Sydney. This incident led to a riot, with the local community gathering outside the church and engaging in violent behavior.
In response to these attacks, authorities have reached out to community leaders to prevent retaliatory actions against different communities. Despite these incidents, Prime Minister Albanese affirmed that multiculturalism has been successful in Australia, citing numerous events in various communities that he had attended.
Nevertheless, he acknowledged the impact of the recent events on society and emphasized the importance of nurturing multiculturalism and showing respect for one another at all times. Additionally, Mr. Albanese condemned the rise of anti-Semitic sentiments in some communities, stating that such behavior has no place in Australia.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton also condemned the church attack, highlighting that violence motivated by ideologies is unacceptable. He emphasized that violence should never be the response to disagreements, regardless of faith or beliefs.
Prime Minister Albanese refrained from labeling the Bondi Junction attack as a terrorist act despite calls to categorize it as such. He emphasized the role of security and police agencies in determining the nature of the incident and providing necessary support.
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus also refrained from commenting on the incident while investigations were ongoing. In a positive development, the Australian government granted permanent residency to a security guard from Pakistan who was injured during the confrontation with the Bondi Junction attacker.
Nina Nguyen contributed to this article.
