A teenage boy has been charged with murder after a Church of Scientology member was stabbed to death at the organisation’s Australasian headquarters on Sydney’s Lower North Shore.

The 16-year-old Chinese national, who is the son of a Scientologist, has now been charged with murder, common assault (DV), common assault, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray.

A teenager has been charged over the alleged stabbing of a man in Sydney’s Lower North Shore. https://t.co/6h8DlPoWUd — NSW Police Force (@nswpolice) January 4, 2019

It is now understood the boy — who is not a member of the church himself — wanted to stop his Scientologist mother undergoing a a controversial and intense “purification” process that claims to rid the body of drugs and toxins to reach a spiritual high.

A source told the Daily Telegraph the boy begged his mother not to undergo the introductory Purification Rundown cleanse in an argument the night before.

According to the church’s website, the ritual “enables an individual to rid himself of the harmful effects of drugs, toxins and other chemicals that lodge in the body and create a biochemical barrier to spiritual well-being”.

“We live in a chemical-oriented society. Virtually everyone is regularly subjected to an intake of food preservatives, pesticides, atmospheric poisons and the like,” it reads. “Add to this the panoply of medical and street drugs generally consumed and the gravity of the problem becomes obvious.

“These drugs and toxins can put an individual into a condition which not only prohibits and destroys physical health, but which can prevent any stable advancement in mental or spiritual well-being.”

However, the ritual, which costs church-goers thousands of dollars has been debunked by independent doctors and, in a an investigation by the New York Press, some explicitly described it as dangerous.

Followers take courses in purification to rid them of “toxic residues” and attend “auditing” sessions costing thousands of dollars to help them overcome their past and ascend to a higher level of existence.

This involves a tightly supervised regimen of exercise, sauna and nutrition.

A 24-year-old Taiwanese victim was killed by “traumatic” stab wounds after an incident at the $57 million Church of Scientology headquarters in Chatswood on Thursday afternoon.

The incident is alleged to have occurred on the driveway to the church after the 16-year-old was asked to leave.

Police said the teen was escorted from the premises — and as he was taken down the road a 25cm “very sharp kitchen knife” was allegedly produced.

Police said the 24-year-old died in hospital. He was “bleeding heavily” from the neck when paramedics arrived.

A 30-year-old man also injured in the attack has been discharged after being treated for minor injuries.

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Jones said when officers arrived they drew their tasers to get him to drop the knife.

“At this stage it’s very early. It would appear the altercation, or the reason the young person has been removed from the premises, was only and solely in relation to a domestic incident that occurred yesterday (Wednesday).”

The Church of Scientology released a statement that paid tribute to the church member who died.

“We are working closely with the police in relation to this matter and cannot release any further details,” a spokesman said.

“We will continue to fully co-operate with the police in relation to their investigation.

“We want to thank the local community for all their help and support in relation to this tragic incident.”

The 16-year-old has been refused bail to appear at a Children’s Court on Saturday.

— with wires