The Islamic catchcry has been scratched on the windows of the Desert Life Church in Alice Springs.
A CHRISTIAN church in Alice Springs has had the words “Allah Akbar” scratched into their glass door and windows by a man who is alleged to have assaulted a security guard and thrown rocks at his car.
The phrase “Allah Akbar” is a poorly translated version of the Islamic phrase “Allahu Akbar” which means God is greater or God is (the) greatest.
A security officer saw a man allegedly scratching the front glass doors of the Desert Life Church on Undoolya Road in Alice Springs at 9.30pm on Saturday night.
The security officer stepped in to stop the 23-year-old man from damaging the doors further when police allege he assaulted the security officer.
Superintendent Travis Wurst said the security officer then went back to his vehicle to call police. “The security guard exited the vehicle, a short time later it is alleged the male attacked the vehicle by punching the windscreen and throwing rocks at it,” he said.
Desert Life Church senior pastor Keith Ainge said the alleged offender was not known to the church.
“I think from our perspective we are treating it as vandalism, we are not looking at any religious connotation or involvement in it,” Mr Ainge said.
However, he said it was possible ISIS’s ideology had spread into the community.
“It easily could be, because (ISIS) is in communities everywhere,” he said.
Mr Ainge said the violent videos depicting young extremists committing acts of terror was inspiring copycats.
“I’m sure it is, there is no question about it, you only have to read the newspapers,” he said. He said he didn’t know the perpetrator.
The church’s Sunday service attracts 400 people a week.
“I think the main concern is the inconvenience and its cost,” Mr Ainge said.
The 23-year-old was charged with assault a person and damage to property and will appear in Alice Springs Magistrates Court on April 9.
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