The 16-year-old boy who was shot dead after a stabbing attack in the Perth Bunnings Willetton carpark sent a chilling jihad threat before death

A “radicalised” teenager who committed a stabbing attack in a suburban Perth carpark sent a chilling jihad threat before death.

A boy of 16, who was known to authorities for being “radicalised online”, plotted a “jihad” attack shortly before he was killed after stabbing a stranger in a Perth Bunnings carpark.

Police shot dead the caucasian teenager, who was armed with a 30cm kitchen knife, late on Saturday night, more than two years after he enlisted in an official “deradicalisation” program to curb his extreme views.

Authorities revealed the ­unnamed high school student, who was not a member of the local Muslim community but had converted to Islam, had been “radicalised online”.

Screen grab from supplied video of a police shooting in the carpark of Bunnings in Willetton.

In his final message, the boy said he was going “on the path of jihad” and was a “soldier” of Al-Qaeda, The West Australian reported last night.

“Brothers please forgive me for any time I have wronged you, I am going on the path of jihad tonight for the sake of Allah,” he wrote.

“I am a soldier of the mujahideen of Al-Qaeda and take responsibility for the actions that will ... take place. Please don’t forget me and the mujahideen in your duat (afterlife).”

There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by the boy’s friends.

Parents at his top Perth high school revealed “red flags” were raised with authorities about “disturbing behaviour” among students.

WA police commissioner Col Blanch speaks about the Willetton incident.

Members of the Muslim community were so concerned about his extreme views – and online threats – they reported him to police multiple times over the past two years including shortly before his death.

WA detectives, with assistance from Australian Federal Police agents, are investigating if the teen was brainwashed on social media, which experts say is a “haven” for radical views.

A late-night gym-goer, 30, who detectives believe was a random victim, was fighting for life in a serious but stable condition in Royal Perth Hospital Sunday night after being stabbed in the back.

Police Commissioner Col Blanch said while the attack, in a Bunnings carpark at Willetton in Perth’s south, had “all the hallmarks” of terrorism, on Sunday night it was yet to be officially declared a terror incident.

The boy, who reportedly attended Rossmoyne Senior High School, one of WA’s top public schools, was among a group of boys that parents had growing concerns about their “disturbing behaviour”.

Mr Blanch, who praised his officers, said he had spoken to authorities revealed the unnamed boy, who was not known to the Muslim community but had reportedly converted to Islam, had been “radicalised online” but was believed to be acting alone.

Closed sign at entry to Bunninigs, Willetton. Picture: Philip Gostelow

An Australian Federal Police spokeswoman said the AFP was aware of the incident and working with WA Police but would not comment further.

An Australian Security Intelligence Organisation spokeswoman declined to comment last night but ASIO director-general Mike Burgess on Sunday briefed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, as did AFP boss Reece Kershaw.

“We are a peace-loving nation and there is no place for violent extremism in Australia,” the prime minister said.

Prime Minister Anthony said he was advised “there is no ongoing threat to the community. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Mr Albanese said he was advised “there is no ongoing threat to the community”, which was echoed by Mr Blanch and WA Premier Roger Cook.

Mr Cook described the incident as “extremely confronting”.

Last week, Mr Burgess noted “vulnerable” minors had comprised half of ASIO’s “priority counter-terrorism caseload” a few years ago but had “picked up again”.

He blamed social media as one, but not an isolated influence.

The boy called police at 10.10pm on Saturday, without identifying himself, to say he was “going to commit acts of violence” before abruptly hanging up.

Several others, believed to include members of the Muslim community, raised concerns to authorities about the teenager’s threats to cause harm.

As police launched an urgent investigation, officers were called to the hardware store’s carpark after receiving emergency calls of an armed boy stabbing a man.

A WA Police spokesman said the “motivation for this incident is currently under investigation … but it appears the victim and offender were not known to each other”.

Mr Blanch said police arrived on scene within three minutes of the call.

Harrowing CCTV shows the boy chase police through the carpark before stopping near one of South Perth’s main arterial routes.

The scene of a crime in Perth's south after police shot dead a teenager who stabbed a member of the public. Picture: Philip Gostelow

Two officers withdrew their tasers while a third took out their gun as they shouted at the suspect to drop his weapon.

“They challenged the male to put down the knife, which he did not comply,” Mr Blanch said.

He “rushed” officers with the weapon, prompting them to deploy their tasers, but this failed to stop him due to his baggy clothing – before the third officer shot him once at 10.26pm.

The teenager died later in hospital despite officers frantic efforts to save his life as more than two dozen patrols converged.

Mr Blanch, who revealed details of the operation 12 hours later, said the boy was known to police, had mental health issues and appeared to have been radicalised online.

“Members of the WA Muslim community contacted police, also calling triple-0, just prior to the incident with their concerns,” he said.

“I do want to thank members of the Muslim community who did that because that enabled us to identify rapidly who this individual was and respond as quick as we did,” he said.

Mr Blanch said the incident had the “hallmarks” of a terrorist incident, but would not label it as such “at this stage”.

WA Police at the Bunnings carpark in Perth. Picture: 7NEWS

He said the boy was one of “three or four” young people in WA who were “actively” participating in a national support program aimed at countering violent extremism online.

Australia’s program was based on a pioneering Netherlands course that deracialises Far-Right neo-Nazis.

The boy had been involved since 2022 with support from psychologists and faith leaders.

“I believe this is a person acting alone,” Mr Blanch said.

“I don’t need additional capability at this time whilst it meets the criteria, or at least the definition (of terrorism).

“It would be too early for me to act now, because I don’t have the concerns of a broader network that might be involved at this stage.

“One is too many, but we do live in a safe place and people in WA are safe and the police responded extremely quickly.”

A Bunnings spokesman declined to comment but the local store was shut on Sunday.

Flinders University emeritus professor of criminology Andrew Goldsmith said the internet allowed young people to have easy access to material.

WA Police shot and killed a 16-year-old after the teenager stabbed a man in a Bunnings carpark in Perth. Picture: 7NEWS

“The internet provides a haven for all sorts of views, both extreme and moderate and without necessarily parents’ knowledge,” he said.

“This material would have been very difficult to access a generation ago.

“But social media, and the internet, allows young people read access to this material. You don’t have to get on the dark web, which requires an extra level of skill. A young person can find it online.”

The Imam of Perth’s largest mosque, the Nasir Mosque, Imam Syed Wadood Janud, condemned the attack in the “harshest form”.

“The whole community is shook, and we are all concerned regarding the perpetrators’ online radicalisation,” he said.

“There is no place for violence in Islam. We appreciate the effort of the police to keep our communities safe.

“I also want to commend the local Muslim community who had flagged the individual prior with the police.”

CCTV footage shows a teenager wielding a knife before being shot by police. picture: 7 News ,

The 16-year-old boy had previously been involved in a countering violent extremism program since 2022, with support from psychologists and faith leaders.

Anthony Albanese said intelligence and security officers did not believe there was an ongoing threat.

“I have received a briefing on the situation by the ASIO Director-General and the AFP Commissioner, and I’m advised there is no ongoing threat to the community on the information available,” the Prime Minister said.

“We are a peace-loving nation and there is no place for violent extremism in Australia.”

The Imam of Perth’s Nasir Mosque, Imam Syed Wadood Janud, condemned the attack, saying the “whole community” is shocked.

CCTV footage shows a teenager wielding a knife before being shot by police after stalking officers and stabbing a man in a suburban carpark in Perth. picture: 7 News ,

“We are all concerned regarding the perpetrators’ online radicalisation that early reports are hinting towards,” he said.

“There is no place for violence in Islam. We appreciate the effort of the police to keep our communities safe. “

A man stabbed in the carpark prior to police attending is currently in hospital in a “serious but stable” condition.

Originally published as The 16-year-old boy who was shot dead after a stabbing attack in the Perth Bunnings Willetton carpark sent a chilling jihad threat before death