Melbourne, Australia — A 16-year-old boy armed with a knife was shot dead by police after stabbing a man in the city of Perth on Australia’s west coast, authorities said Sunday.
The incident occurred in the parking lot of a hardware store in the suburb of Willetton on Saturday night.
The teenager allegedly attacked the man and then lunged at police officers before he was shot, Western Australia Premier Roger Cook told reporters on Sunday.
“There are indications that he had been radicalized online,” Cook said at a news conference.
“But I want to assure the community that at this time it appears that he acted solely and exclusively,” Cook added.
Police and officers from the Australian Security Intelligence Organization have been carrying out a counter-terrorism investigation in the east coast city of Sydney since a 16-year-old boy stabbed an Assyrian Orthodox bishop and priest in a church on April 15.
The boy has been accused of committing a terrorist act. Six of his alleged associates have also been charged with various crimes, including conspiracy to participate in or plan a terrorist act. All remain in custody.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had been briefed on the latest stabbing in Perth by Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw and ASIO director-general Mike Burgess, who heads the country’s main domestic spy agency.
“Based on the information available, I have been informed that there is no ongoing threat to the community,” Albanese said in a statement.
“We are a peace-loving nation and there is no place for violent extremism in Australia,” Albanese added.
Police received an emergency phone call after 10 p.m. from a teenager who said he was going to commit violence, Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported.
A man was found at the scene with stab wounds to his back, ABC reported. His condition was not immediately clear.