Australian police have made their first arrest after a riot was triggered by an alleged terror attack on an Orthodox Assyrian church in western Sydney.
Officers attached to South West Metropolitan Region and North West Metropolitan Operation Support Group executed a search warrant at a home in Powers Rd, Doonside at about 7.40pm (NZST).
They arrested a 19-year-old man who has been taken to Blacktown Police Station.
"Inquiries are continuing," police said.
The riot unfolded on Tuesday evening after the stabbing at an Orthodox Assyrian church during a sermon which was being broadcast live online.
The event, labelled by police as a "terrorist act", sparked unrest as an angry mob confronted police.
"Those violent pictures are probably what caused the uproar in the community — people saw that, responded and unfortunately we ended up with a public order incident," NSW acting Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland told reporters at the time.
Police arrived to respond to the stabbing and the crowd "turned" on them, NSW Police commissioner Commissioner Karen Webb said
Two officers were injured as bricks, concrete and palings were used to assault police while 20 vehicles were damaged, Commissioner Webb said.
The force said one constable suffered a broken jaw and another suffered a chipped tooth and twisted knee.
Seven people were taken to hospital and paramedics checked about 30 people, with about 20 being treated for the effects of OC spray.
Several houses nearby were also broken into, according to NSW Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland.
Two strike forces were set up in the wake of the attack: One to investigate the stabbing and one to investigate the disorder.
– Additional reporting by AAP.
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