Melbourne church attack: Our Consulate in touch with Indian priest, says Sushma Swaraj

Day after Indian catholic priest Father Tomy Kalathoor Mathew was attacked in a church in Australia, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj took cognizance of the matter saying that the former was taken to the hospital and Indian Consulate officials were in touch with police authorities there.

"There was an attempt on the life of a church priest of Indian origin Father Tomy Mathew in Australia by a citizen of Italian origin," she tweeted.

In a series of tweet she further said the Indian Consulate officials met Father Mathew in the hospital and are in touch with the police authorities.

"Our Consulate is in touch with the Police authorities and will keep us informed of the progress of the case," she tweeted.

Swaraj further informed that the police have arrested the attacker and charged him with attempt to murder.

In an apparent hate crime, Father Mathew was attacked while leading the Sunday mass in a Melbourne church, according to media reports.

The man has been charged for stabbing Mathew in the neck, moments before the priest was due to give the 11 a.m. Italian-language mass on Sunday.

He has been charged with intentionally and recklessly causing injury and bailed to appear in the Broadmeadows Magistrates' Court on June 13.

The attack was described as "appalling" by the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne.