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Perth’s Muslim community has raised concerns about the behavior of a “radicalised” 16-year-old high school boy before he stabbed a man in a car park.
Police said the boy stabbed a stranger in the back, leaving him in hospital in a serious condition, outside Bunnings on the High Road in Willetton after 10pm yesterday.
Police fatally shot the boy, who they said was armed with a 30cm kitchen knife, in the confrontation.
The teenager was a pupil at Rossmoyne High School.
In an email to parents and carers, school principal Alan Brown confirmed he had died in the accident.
“We recognize and respect the family’s right to privacy… Our thoughts are with them and their friends at this difficult time,” he wrote.
The Washington Department of Education said the school will provide additional support for students trying to cope with an unimaginable tragedy.
Police Commissioner Colonel Blanche said the boy was Caucasian, had converted to Islam and had “mental health issues and radicalization issues”.
He said the boy attended a program to combat extreme online violence and extremism – which saw seven youths and almost a dozen adults.
Members of the Muslim community have also contacted police and raised concerns about his behavior before last night’s alleged attack, Premier Roger Cook said.
“There are indications that he was radicalized online,” he said.
“We would also like to mention that Islam has nothing to do with any acts of violence that are done in its name. Islam is a religion that literally means peace,” he said at a press conference today.
Blanch said the teenager called Triple Zero around 10:10 p.m., informing them he planned to commit “acts of violence.”
He said a second triple zero call was made by a member of the public who allegedly witnessed the teenager running around the car park with a knife.
“When he was chasing the police car around, he was holding (the knife) in his waist area and when he was running towards the police car, he was obviously holding it in the air,” witness John Chee told 9News.
Police said they tried to get the boy to drop the knife and used two Tasers when he did not comply.
“The man continued to advance toward the third officer with a firearm, who fired one shot and fatally wounded the man,” Blanch said.
The police commissioner defended the officer’s actions, saying he acted professionally.
“I saw the body-worn video. I am comfortable with the approach of the police, they did their job,” he said.
The victim, about 30 years old, is now in a stable condition in hospital.
Authorities assured the community that the teenager acted alone and there was no ongoing threat to the public.
In response to the incident, Cook called an emergency meeting of ministers, the police commissioner and religious leaders, which was held today.
In a statement about the incident today, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said there was “no place for violent extremism in Australia”.
“My thoughts are with those affected by the incident,” he said.
“I have also been briefed on the situation by the Director General of ASIO and the Commissioner of the AFP and have been advised that there is no current threat to the community based on the information available.”
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