Two men charged for assaulting security guard, parishioners at Hillsong church in Sydney

Australian authorities have charged two men for the assault of two parishioners and a security guard outside of Hillsong church in Sydney last week.

According to Australian media outlet 9News, the attack occurred on the night of April 28 when a group of young men who were headed to Redfern Station got into an argument with another group of men.

The 33-year-old security guard tried to intervene when he saw an 18-year-old man struck in the face. But the security guard himself was punched in the face and sustained a bleed on the brain and a fractured cheekbone. He was transported to St. Vincent's Hospital where he remains in a stable condition.

A 21-year-old man was also assaulted before the group fled the scene, The Daily Mail reported.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims who are now recovering, and we are supporting them and their families," a Hillsong spokesman said in a statement following the attack.

"We are shocked that this happened so close to our church and we will continue to review security at our Waterloo campus," he added.

On Monday, the authorities arrested a 23-year-old man and charged him with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault. He was granted bail on the condition that he appear at Downing Centre Local Court on May 22.

A 22-year-old man was arrested at a home on Richmond Street in Earlwood later that day. He was charged with two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and was denied bail.

A campus pastor said that the security guard, identified as Ashil Nada, has worked with Hillsong for many years.

"He is a really great guy and has served as part of the security team here for many years... and our thoughts are really with him," the pastor remarked.

He believes that the attack was not religious in nature and said that security will be reviewed.

Neighbors have noted that Hillsong's weekly youth service attracts rowdy crowds, with fights often breaking out on the street.

Pastor Christian Jeyaratnam said that the meetings at Hillsong were intended for young people, who sometimes have issues.

"Every young person has baggage and so we'll always have security so the young people here are safe," he said.