Australian police arrested seven individuals in connection with an investigation into the stabbing of a priest in western Sydney by a 16-year-old. Officials indicated that the arrested individuals posed an "unacceptable risk and threat."

Australian police conducted raids in Sydney on Wednesday and arrested seven individuals in connection with a stabbing incident at a church the previous week. Authorities stated that those apprehended presented an "unacceptable risk and threat" to public safety, as they subscribed to a "religiously motivated extremist ideology."

Deputy Police Commissioner Dave Hudson said it was "likely" the group investigated in the raids could be plotting an attack but that no specific target had been determined.

"Their behavior, whilst under surveillance, led us to believe that, if they were to commit any act, we would not be able to prevent that," he said. "We believed, through the investigation, that it was likely that an attack might ensue."

Police said all the offenders were juveniles. Five of those arrested were cooperating with police inquiries.

The raids involved 400 officers.

The Australian secret service, ASIO, confirmed it was involved in the investigations.

Also on Wednesday, an Australian Federal Court judge extended an order banning social media platform X, formerly Twitter, from showing videos of the stabbing.

During the church service that was being live-streamed, the suspect purportedly spoke in Arabic about the Prophet Muhammad being insulted after carrying out the stabbing.

Earlier this month, a 16-year-old was accused of stabbing a bishop and a reverend at the Good Shepherd Church in the western Sydney suburb of Wakely. The congregation is affiliated with the Assyrian Church of the East, with roots in parts of the Middle East and southern India.

Police labeled the stabbing a "terrorist incident," citing religiously motivated extremism. The 50-year-old bishop was hospitalized in serious condition, and three others received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries at the scene.

On Friday, the teenage suspect was charged with committing a terrorist act, potentially facing a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.