What Do You Think Are The Deeper Causes Of The Alienation, Violence and Disaffection We Seem To Be Seeing More Of At Present?

This appeared last week:

‘Radicalised’ teen shot dead after stabbing in Perth

By Paul Garvey Senior Reporter

and Tricia Rivera Journalist

12:00PM May 5, 2024

A 16-year-old boy who was believed to have been radicalised has been shot dead in Western Australia after allegedly stabbing another person and charging at police.

WA Premier Roger Cook and Police Commissioner Col Blanch disclosed details about the incident at a press conference in Perth on Sunday morning, saying the teen called police just after 10pm on Saturday to let them know he was going to “commit acts of violence”.

Mr Cook said members of the Muslim community had made multiple calls to 000 concerned about the boy shortly before the incident occurred. He said authorities believed that the boy had been “radicalised”.

The victim of the attack is currently in hospital with a stab wound to the back. He is in a serious but stable condition.

The boy is known to police and was involved in a countering violent extremism program. He joined the program in 2022.

The incident took place in a carpark outside a Bunnings store in Willetton.

The Premier labelled the incident as “extremely confronting’.

“A 16 year old male with a knife who had already wounded a member of the public rushed attending officers. In response, a police officer discharged his firearm.

“There are indications he had been radicalised online. But I want to reassure the community at this stage it appears that he acted solely and alone.

“Members of the WA Muslim community who were concerned by his behaviour contacted police prior to the incident, and I thank them for their help.”

Commissioner Blanch said police received a call from the young man before the attack.

“That male indicated that he was going to commit acts of violence. He didn’t provide his name nor location and the phone was in a phone call was in terminated.,” Mr Blanch said.

“Some minutes later, police received another triple zero call from a person ... stating that a male with a knife was running around the car park.”

He said three officers attended the location within three minutes of the call and were confronted with the man who was wielding a large kitchen knife.

“Two officers drew the tasers and one of the officers drew his firearm and challenged the male to put down the knife which he did not comply.”

The 16-year-old allegedly rushed one of the officers who tried to deploy a taser on him.

Commissioner Blanch said a second taster was also used but it did not have the “full desired effect”.

“The male continued to advance on the third officer with a firearm, who fired a single shot and fatally wounded the male,” he said.

“He was taken to hospital and declared deceased at approximately 11pm.

“It’s a very tragic event in Western Australia. It saddens me that I have to be here today talking about it.”

He said that the officers acted in line with their training,

Anthony Albanese said their was no place violent extremism in Australia.

“My thoughts are with those who have been affected by the incident in the Perth suburb of Willetton overnight,” the Prime Minister said in a statement.

“I have spoken with WA Premier Roger Cook this morning, and I thank the WA Police for acting swiftly to contain the incident.”

Mr Albanese said he had received a briefing on the incident from ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess and Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw and that there is “no ongoing threat” to the community at this time.

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

Here is the link:

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/radicalised-teen-shot-dead-after-stabbing-in-perth/news-story/39e693dbfc18105f468edfb89c5b3293

I am really beginning to wonder just what is happening here. It seems clear that none of these incidents are unexpected by people close to the affected nippers and it is very sad more cannont / has not been done to address the underlying issues.

Issues of this sort do not come out of a “clear blue sky” in my view and those close to the problems cannot just ignore the warning signs, if catastrophes are to be avoided. That said it can be very hard to identify the individuals who will really run off the rails vs those who can make it safely to the station! This is really an amazingly difficult for any health system!

I have teen-age grandchildren and I know just how hard it can be to be sure that all is within reasonable bounds…..

That said some of the behaviour we have seen recently is clearly of concern and needs well-thought out and effective responses!

Is it my imagination or are these problems becoming more common?

David.