In a tragic incident in the suburban area of Willetton in Perth, Western Australia, police shot and killed a 16-year-old boy after he stabbed a man, leading authorities to suspect an act of terrorism. The victim, a man in his 30s, was attacked with a kitchen knife in the parking lot of a hardware store on Saturday night. He is currently in stable condition at a local hospital.
Premier Roger Cook of Western Australia province stated that there were indications that the teenager had been “radicalised online.” Concerned members of the local Muslim community had alerted the authorities about the boy’s behavior prior to the attack. Premier Cook addressed the media on Sunday, emphasizing that the assailant appeared to have acted alone.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who was briefed on the incident by police and intelligence agencies, assured the public that there was no ongoing threat. He condemned violent extremism, stating that Australia is a peace-loving nation that does not tolerate such acts.
The local Muslim community played a crucial role in identifying the attacker, as they had previously reported concerns about his behavior. The teenager had even made a call to the police on the night of the incident, indicating his intention to commit acts of violence. A member of the public subsequently alerted the authorities about the knife attack in progress.
Three police officers responded to the scene, armed with a gun and tasers. However, the tasers failed to subdue the assailant, resulting in the use of lethal force. Syed Wadood Janud, the imam of Perth’s Nasir Mosque, condemned the stabbing and expressed gratitude towards the police for their efforts in ensuring community safety.
This incident follows a series of knife attacks in Australia in recent weeks. Last month, several boys were charged with terrorism-related offenses after the stabbing of an Assyrian Christian bishop during a livestreamed sermon in Sydney. Additionally, a stabbing spree in the Bondi suburb of Sydney claimed six lives.
