Police have shot dead a 16-year-old boy who stabbed another man with a kitchen knife in Perth, saying the teenager was "radicalised" online.
Video / WA Police
An allegedly radicalised teenager armed with a large kitchen knife has been shot dead by police in Western Australia.
The incident unfolded in the carpark of a Bunnings at Willetton in Perth’s south overnight.
Western Australia Premier Roger Cook said the 16-year-old attacked a member of the public before rushing at police officers.
“There are indications he had been radicalised online,” Cook told reporters on Sunday.
“But I want to reassure the community at this stage, it appears that he acted solely and alone.
“Members of the W.A. Muslim community who were concerned by his behaviour contacted police prior to the incident, and I thank them for their help,” he said.
“Our police responded within minutes - they encountered a very confronting situation, but their rapid and professional response kept our community safe.”
Western Australia police commissioner Col Blanch has watched body-camera footage of the incident and says officers were confronted by a male armed with a large kitchen knife.
The teen rushed at an officer holding a Taser, prompting two officers to deploy their Tasers, but that action did not have the “desired effect”, he said.
The teen then moved towards a third officer, who fired a single shot. The teen was rushed to hospital, where he died.
When officers arrived at the scene, they were unaware another male had been stabbed in the back in the carpark, who is now in a serious but stable condition in hospital.
