New South Wales Police have confirmed key details of the incident at Pastor Andrew Sedra's Sydney home, providing the first official account since the Echo Church founder and his family said they were threatened and asked for prayer while planning to relocate.
In a statement, NSW Police said officers responded to a disturbance at the Cobbitty property on Thursday, September 3, and issued move-on directions to three people at the scene. A 39-year-old woman was arrested after allegedly failing to comply with that direction and was taken to Narellan Police Station before later being admitted to hospital for an assessment.
Pastor Sedra said police visited the property the following day and are now preparing a security plan covering both the family's home and Echo Church, with patrols planned around the church during Christmas and Easter services. He confirmed he is in the process of lodging a formal report over the threats, with additional meetings with police planned this week.
Sedra, who fled Egypt as a child with his family after his own father - also a pastor - received death threats for ministering to Muslim converts, said the family arrived in Australia as refugees in 2007. He and his wife, Noleen, have continued to say their commitment to ministry hasn't wavered despite the ongoing threats, which they say have persisted for more than a year.
The family's relocation fund remains active as they work with police on next steps.
Related Article: Pastor's Family Says They Were Threatened by LGBTQ Activists, Asking for Prayers: Why Are They Relocating?
