Police in Australia say a man went on a stabbing spree in a church on Monday, in the second mass stabbing in Sydney in a few days.

New South Wales Police says it happened at the Christ The Good Shepherd Church at about 7:10 p.m.

The service was being live streamed and footage showed the man walking up to the alter and attacking the bishop with a knife.

Other people jumped to his aid and were also injured before the supect was restrained.

Police didn't say how many people were injured but said the injuries were non-life threatening.

In a message on Facebook, the church said Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel and Father Issac were hospitalized in stable condition.

"We ask for your prayers at this time. It is the Bishop's and Father's wishes that you also pray for the perpetrator," the statement read.

Police say they arrested the man behind the attacks at the scene and say he was taken to an undisclosed location.

"He is assisting police with inquiries," police said.

There was a large police response in the area and the public was urged to avoid the area.

Who is Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel

Bishop Emmanuel reportedly grew a large social media following during the Covid pandemic by questioning lockdowns and vaccines.

He claimed living 'normally' would boost immunity, the Daily Mail reported.

The incident comes just days after Joel Cauchi, 40, killed six people and injured several others, including an infant, inside the busy Westfield Bondi shopping mall.

A police inspector shot and killed Cauchi.