Australia: Several, including bishop, injured in west Sydney church stabbing

A number of people were injured in a stabbing at a church in Sydney, police said on Monday. The attack occurred in the western suburbs of Australia's most populous city.

Officers said they arrested a male who was assisting them with inquiries.

"A large police response is underway and the public is urged to avoid the area," police said.

The victims suffered "non life-threatening injuries" and were being treated by ambulance crews, police said.

Four people, including the church's bishop, were injured in the attack.The Agence-France Presse news agency cited the ambulance service as saying that the four victims were men between the ages of 20 and 70.

Local media identified the place of worship as the Good Shepherd Church in the suburb of Wakeley. It belongs to the Assyrian Church of the East traditionally based in parts of the Middle East and southern India.

The attack comes just days after a 40-year-old-man stabbed to death six people and injured 12 at a shopping center in Bondi Junction in eastern Sydney. There is no indication the two events are linked.