[ad_1]
A radicalized teenager who stabbed a stranger before being shot dead by police in Perth the weekend before he destroyed a school toilet block with a homemade bomb he had made.
The state opposition aired the disturbing revelation on Monday after it emerged that the 16-year-old had taken part in a government-backed de-radicalisation program and that authorities were aware of his history of risky behaviour.
WATCH VIDEO ABOVE: Teenager at center of Willetton knife attack blows up school toilet block.
The Year 11 pupil was known to watch terrorist videos in class and his behavior alarmed parents at the school to the extent that they wrote to the Education Minister.
WA Liberal leader Libby Metham has taken aim at the state government, claiming it is “failing to keep the community safe”.
“We have an incident where a known 16-year-old boy who was involved in a deradicalization program was involved in the creation of a homemade bomb that destroyed a toilet,” she told reporters.
“(He) had plans to disrupt a school assembly in the most devastating ways and was able to continue his education in a public school.
“There have been a number of concerns raised by parents in this community and the Minister for Education has continued to brush aside these very real concerns.
“This is a government that is failing to keep the community safe.”
A police officer fatally shot the 16-year-old boy around 10pm on Saturday after he lunged at police with a large kitchen knife in a Bunnings rail car park in south suburban Willetton.
In the minutes before that, he called the triple 0 threats “acts of violence” and reportedly sent a message to multiple people saying he was embarking on the “path of jihad.”
The teenager stabbed a man in his 30s in the back outside the hardware store in a random attack that left his victim seriously injured. He is in a stable condition in the trauma unit at Royal Perth Hospital.
Washington Premier Roger Cook confirmed his government and the Department of Education were aware of concerns at the boy’s school about his radicalized behaviour.
“This young man harbored some extremist thoughts, which is why he was part of program to counter violent extremismCook said.
Counterterrorism experts are critical of the program, fearing that service providers lack the expertise to penetrate the mind of a terrorist.
Asked if more should have been done to counter the teenager’s behavior before the incident, Cook said it was not illegal to have extremist thoughts.
The teenager, who was known to police and had mental health issues and online radicalisation, was taken to hospital and pronounced dead at around 11pm.
America West Police Minister Paul Papalia said working with radicalized people was a challenge.
“It’s hard to try to change people’s beliefs once they’ve become obsessed and radicalized like that,” he told Seven’s Sunrise program on Monday.
“These are people who haven’t necessarily committed a crime and you can’t lock people up for having beliefs. This is part of democracy.
“Deradicalization efforts were thrown at him – every effort was made. Unfortunately, in this case, that didn’t stop him from doing what he did.
Classmates told 7NEWS that the 16-year-old has two sides, with some even describing him as “kind and sincere.”
— With AAP
If you need help in a crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For further information about depression contact beyondblue on 1300224636 or speak to your GP, local health professional or someone you trust.
[ad_2]
