A 16-year-old boy was shot by police in Perth after stabbing a man in what authorities are calling a terrorism-related incident. The teen had previously been identified as radicalised and was part of a deradicalisation program.
A 16-year-old boy was fatally shot by police in Perth, Australia, after he stabbed a man in a car park, an incident authorities have described as having “hallmarks of terrorism.” The event occurred when the teenager, confirmed to have been radicalised online, attacked a man in his 30s, inflicting a stab wound to his back. The man is currently in serious but stable condition in hospital.
Prior to the attack, police had been alerted by a phone call from the boy declaring his violent intentions. Upon arrival, officers attempted to use Tasers to subdue him, but ultimately resorted to using a firearm when non-lethal means failed. The teenager was known to have been participating in a deradicalisation program aimed at young people at risk of extremism.
Premier Roger Cook and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese both addressed the incident, emphasizing that the teenager appeared to have acted alone and assuring the public that there was no ongoing threat. The attack follows another recent incident in Sydney involving a similarly aged youth, which has stirred community concerns over violent extremism.
The local Muslim community, including the Imam of Perth’s Nasir Mosque, strongly condemned the attack and reiterated that violence has no place in Islam. The incident has sparked a broader discussion on the treatment and classification of such violent acts within Australia.
