A 16-year-old boy in Perth, Australia, was fatally shot by police after stabbing a man in a parking lot and displaying extremist tendencies, officials said.
The incident occurred late Saturday night after authorities received a call from a male threatening violence. Members of the public also reported the teenager wielding a knife, prompting officers to respond to the scene.
The shooting comes on the heels of recent stabbing attacks in Australia, including a mass stabbing in Sydney that left six dead and several injured. Just days later, a 15-year-old boy was arrested for stabbing an Assyrian Orthodox bishop and others during a mass in what police deemed an act of terrorism.
In Perth, two officers attempted to subdue the teenager with tasers and a firearm after he refused to drop his knife and charged at them. Despite their efforts, the suspect continued to advance towards the officer with the firearm, who ultimately shot and killed him. The victim of the initial stabbing, a middle-aged male, was hospitalized in serious but stable condition.
Authorities revealed that the suspect, a white male whose identity was not disclosed, had been on their radar for potential extremist tendencies for several years. However, they believe he acted alone in Saturday’s attack.
Police Commissioner Col Blanch described the incident as a “tragic event” and emphasized that there is no place for violent extremism in Australia. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese echoed this sentiment, condemning the violence in a statement following the shooting.
