New South Wales Police have arrested another five men allegedly involved in the Sydney riots that broke out in April after a religious leader was stabbed at a church in Wakeley.
Police conducted raids on Thursday as part of Strike Force Dribs in ongoing investigations into the large-scale public order incident.
Officers arrested two men aged 41 and 31, as well as a 17-year-old boy at homes in Fairfield West, Wakeley and Green Valley.
Additional arrests were made at Fairfield Police Station and a correctional facility in Cessnock, where two men, aged 20 and 29, were charged.
The five arrested individuals face a range of charges including: riot, destruction of property, and assaulting police officers.
Twenty-nine individuals have now been charged as part of an extensive investigation conducted by Strike Force Dribs.
The incident, which took place in Wakeley on April 15, 2024, has prompted a series of coordinated police actions leading to the recent arrests.
Riots erupted outside a local church, involving a large group of individuals and escalated into a significant public order incident.
Enraged locals and members of the Assyrian Orthodox Christian community turned hostile after bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was stabbed by a teenage boy – who has since been charged with terrorism.
At least 94 police vehicles were said to be damaged and several police officers were injured, while paramedics were forced to seek refuge from the riots.
It has been suspected the mob turned on authorities due to a desire for vigilante retaliation against the teenage offender, who had been arrested but remained in the church.
The boy, 16, has since been charged with one count of terrorism and denied bail after police declared the stabbing was an act driven by extremist religious ideology.
Police have appealed to the public for any information that could help identify seven additional men believed to have been involved in the riot.
Detailed descriptions of the individuals have been released to aid identification.
Person B: Middle Eastern appearance, dark brown hair (faded sides), full brown beard, black jumper, grey tracksuit pants, black TN runners, grey shoulder bag with black trimmings.
Person CD: Middle Eastern appearance, dark brown hair (faded sides), moustache and goatee, grey and black jumper, black runners.
Person CB: Middle Eastern appearance, dark brown longer hair, unshaven dark beard, white Nike jumper, white Nike tracksuit pants, white TN shoes with yellow heels.
Person BU: Middle Eastern appearance, muscular build, dark hair (fade hairstyle), full beard, black jumper (white marking on left arm), charcoal pants.
Person AO: Middle Eastern appearance, medium muscular build, dark beard, white ‘Eleven’ t-shirt, black three-quarter shorts, black runners (white sole), tattoos behind left ear, right leg sleeve, left arm sleeve, star on right elbow.
Person Z: Middle Eastern appearance, medium muscular build, dark beard, black singlet, black shorts, black Nike hat, grey runners.
Person H: Middle Eastern appearance, full beard, wearing a t-shirt.
Anyone with information regarding the riot or the individuals described has been urged to contact police.
New South Wales Police will address media on Friday.