Overview of the Incident
A radicalized 16-year-old boy was shot dead by police in Western Australia after stabbing a man in a car park in Perth. The incident, which unfolded rapidly, has raised concerns about online radicalization and mental health issues.
Details of the Stabbing
- The middle-aged man who was stabbed is in a serious but stable condition, according to Western Australia Police Commissioner Col Blanch.
- The teenager, who had been radicalized online, rushed at the police officers who responded by using Tasers before firing a fatal shot.
Sequence of Events
During a press conference, Blanch revealed that the police received a call from a male threatening violence. Shortly after, another call reported a male with a knife in a car park in Willetton, Perth.
Body camera footage showed the teenager refusing to drop the knife despite police commands. Tasers were ineffective, leading to the fatal shot being fired.
Background of the Attacker
Blanch mentioned that the teenager had mental health and online radicalization issues. He had been part of a program for countering violent extremism due to religious or issue-motivated concerns.
Context and Comparison
This incident in Perth follows a recent attack in Sydney where a mentally ill knifeman killed six people in a shopping mall. The assailant was later shot and killed by the police.
