In Melbourne, Australia, a 16-year-old boy was fatally shot by police after stabbing a man in Perth, despite his two-year participation in a deradicalization program. Authorities clarified that he had no connections to a network of teen extremists in Sydney. Paul Papalia, the Western Australia Police Minister, stated that although the boy had no criminal record, he held dangerous views and could potentially be radicalized, posing a challenge as individuals like him can act suddenly and without warning.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed concern over social media's role in promoting extreme ideologies, emphasizing the broader societal issue of violent extremism and violence against women. The incident unfolded when the boy called police, indicating he was about to commit violent acts, though he did not specify a location. Minutes later, police received a report of the boy wielding a knife in a hardware store parking lot. Despite attempts to subdue him with stun guns, he was fatally shot.
The victim of the stabbing, a man in his 30s, sustained serious but stable injuries. Police noted that concerns about the boy's behavior had been raised by the local Muslim community prior to the incident. The boy had sent a text message to associates indicating his intention to engage in jihad for the sake of Allah, prompting several associates to alert the police.
While the stabbing had the characteristics of a terrorist attack, it has not been officially labeled as such, pending further investigation.
Western Australia Premier Roger Cook acknowledged concerns about the boy's behavior at his school, Rossmoyne Senior High School, where there were reports of several boys attempting to radicalize classmates. The boy's participation in the Countering Violent Extremism program was attributed to harboring extremist thoughts. Parent Amanda Spencer-Teo, who raised concerns about student behavior, criticized the school and education department for failing to address these issues.
The incident contrasts with a terrorist attack in Sydney where an Assyrian Orthodox bishop and priest were stabbed, resulting in the declaration of a terrorist act by New South Wales Police. The attacker, who had a history of schizophrenia, targeted mostly women in a shopping mall rampage, killing six and wounding a dozen before being shot dead by police. The motive behind this attack has not yet been disclosed.