Perth Teenager Shot Dead by Police After Stabbing Incident
On Saturday night, a 16-year-old boy was shot and killed by police in Perth, Australia, after he stabbed a man with a kitchen knife. The incident occurred in the car park of a Bunnings store in Willetton, a suburb in Perth's southern suburbs.
Police received two emergency calls in quick succession. The first call was from the teenager, stating his intention to commit violence. The second call reported the stabbing of a man in the Bunnings car park.
Upon arrival, officers encountered the teenager armed with a large kitchen knife. He lunged at them with the knife, prompting one officer to fire a single shot, fatally wounding the teenager.
The victim of the stabbing, a man in his 30s, is recovering in hospital with a serious but stable condition. He sustained a two-centimeter stab wound to the back that may have punctured a lung.
Police Commissioner Col Blanch stated that the incident was not being labeled as a terrorist attack at this stage, but it did have the hallmarks of one. He explained that the timing of declaring a terrorist act was crucial for accessing additional resources, which were not currently needed.
The teenager was known to police and was part of a program designed to help individuals at risk of being radicalized. The program focuses on individuals who express concerning ideologies but are not yet committing crimes.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese thanked police for their swift action and confirmed that there was no ongoing threat to the community based on available information.
Federal Minister for Youth Dr Anne Aly highlighted the importance of de-radicalization programs, acknowledging their success but also their limitations.
The Imam of Perth's largest mosque, Imam Syed Wadood Janud, condemned the attack and emphasized that Islam does not condone violence. He also commended the local Muslim community for contacting the police beforehand and praised the Western Australia Police department for their swift response.
An urgent meeting of community faith leaders and authorities was held on Sunday afternoon in Perth to discuss the incident and its implications.