PERTH, Australia: Western Australian police fatally shot a 16-year-old boy described as “radicalized” after he stabbed a man in a Perth car park, according to police and state officials.
The teenager, armed with a kitchen knife, charged at police, who initially used Tasers before resorting to lethal force. Premier Roger Cook stated that while there were indications of online radicalization, the attacker acted alone.
The incident unfolded after police received a call warning of impending violence, followed by reports of a knife-wielding individual in a car park in Willetton. Despite officers’ attempts to subdue him with Tasers, the teenager continued to advance with the knife, prompting an officer to fire a single fatal shot. The teenager later succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.
The man who was stabbed, described as “middle-aged,” sustained serious injuries but is in stable condition. Police suspect the attacker had contacted members of the Muslim community before the incident. The teenager had a history of mental health issues and had participated in a program aimed at addressing concerns of extremism.
While the incident bears “hallmarks” of a terrorist act, authorities have not made an official declaration, and there are no indications of a wider network involvement. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized that there is no ongoing threat and reiterated Australia’s commitment to peace.
This incident comes in the wake of recent knife attacks in Australia, including a mass stabbing in a Sydney shopping mall and the stabbing of an Assyrian Christian bishop during a live-streamed service. The perpetrators in both cases had a history of mental illness, with one incident classified as a terrorist act.
