NSW Premier Chris Minns defends 'terror' designation for church stabbing attack

NSW Premier Chris Minns has defended the decision to label the stabbing of a bishop and a priest in a western Sydney church a terrorist attack, amid fears it could raise community tensions.

Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, and Father Isaac Royel, were both injured when a 16-year-old boy allegedly attacked them with a knife during the bishop's sermon on Monday night at the Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley.

The boy, who was arrested, also had at least one finger cut off in the ensuing melee.

READ MORE: Local MP reluctant to accept labelling church attack a terror incident

All three were hospitalised with non-life-threatening injuries.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb made the decision to designate the stabbing a terrorism event, which Police Minister Yasmin Catley signed off on later that night.

However, some in the community, including local federal Independent MP Dai Le, have suggested the decision could inflame local tensions.

Minns said today the terror designation was not "performative".

"That designation needed to happen to unlock powers for New South Wales Police to investigate this crime," he told Today.

"We need to look at radicalisation. We need to look at this young man's history prior to these offences.

"It's my judgement that the absolute right decision was made, and I just hope people don't second guess the police at the moment."

ASIO head Mike Burgess said yesterday the stabbing was believed to have been religiously motivated.

Minns said today investigators would look for potential "red flags" in the alleged attacker's past.

"I can assure you that we've got the resources in place to do that investigation and report to the public as soon as possible," he said.

See what else the Premier had to say in the video above