Six teenagers have been charged after an African gang allegedly armed with axes and knives stormed a Perth high school and stabbed a student.
Western Australia Police allege members of a gang called South Side allegedly travelled to Ellenbrook Secondary College in the city’s north on Monday afternoon in response to “online abuse”, leaving one student injured and the school locked down for more than an hour.
CCTV footage obtained by 7News shows one of the teenagers being chased down by police after the alleged rampage and others running away on foot, while local residents said gang activity was increasing in the suburb.
Six of the alleged attackers, aged 13, 14, 15, and 16, were arrested at about 4pm and all were charged with unlawful wounding, assault occasioning bodily harm, being armed to cause fear, and disorderly behaviour, while one of the 14-year-olds was also charged with carrying an edged weapon.
Three of the males, aged 14, 15 and 16, faced Perth Children’s Court on Tuesday where prosecutor Patrick Cavagin alleged 11 gang members approached two students leaving school and shouted “Oi! That’s them”, The West Australian reported.
Mr Cavagin alleged the attack “appeared to have stemmed from online abuse” which allegedly caused a “gang called South Side to travel north of the river and go to the school”.
Only the 15-year-old applied for bail, which was opposed by Mr Cavagin who was said he was concerned about large numbers of teenagers taking part in future offending, but Magistrate Alana Padmanabham granted bail, putting the boy under a 24-hour curfew at a Huntingdale home.
The other two males will remain in custody until facing court again in December, and three more teenagers, 13, 14 and 16, will appear at a later date.
The alleged victim was hospitalised with stab wounds to his arm and head.
Header image: Left, right, teenagers caught running from the scene (7News).
