Police charge 16-year-old boy over terrifying alleged knife incident inside Cannington Carousel

A 16-year-old boy has been charged after he allegedly brandished a knife inside a Cannington shopping centre, causing chaos to erupt as the precinct was plunged into lockdown.

The alarming incident unfolded about 3.30pm in Cannington’s Westfield Carousel shopping centre after a verbal altercation broke out between two groups on Friday.

Police on Saturday morning confirmed that two males — a 16-year-old and a 20-year-old — engaged in a physical altercation and that the teenager was allegedly armed with a knife.

It was believed the 20-year-old male victim had been slashed in the face with a knife during the scuffle, however, he had suffered a facial injury after he was punched in the face.

A 16-year-old boy is now facing multiple charges and has been remanded in custody.

Police claim the teenager was armed with a knife before the victim managed to grab it and throw it away.

It is also alleged that during the altercation, the 16-year-old obtained a second knife. Both knives have been seized by police.

The teenager, from Rivervale, has been charged with one count of being armed in a way that may cause fear and one count of stealing.

He will face the Perth Children’s Court on Sunday.

The charges come after shocking footage emerged on Friday night of a young man wielding a knife and sprinting after school students inside the centre.

The video showed several teenagers, believed to be from a southern suburbs school, disperse in all different directions during a verbal argument outside Cotton On Body.

A teenager in a school uniform was seen gesturing towards a young man, who wielded a large knife, while the group swore among one another.

The man was then filmed charging towards several people — including one teen in a school uniform.

As he sprinted past several shopfronts with a knife in his right hand, members of the public could be heard screaming in the vision.

A woman was trying to hold the young man back before he started his chase.

WA Police Inspector Geoff DeSanges said it was understandable that people inside the shopping centre would have been frightened.

“That’s completely understandable considering what’s occurred in the Eastern States, in Bondi in recent times, and other reports of knives within our community,” he said.

“It’s completely understandable that people would be concerned. However, I want to assure the community that there is no cause for alarm.”

Jade Watson, who was working at Colette, said she had just finished her shift before the chaos unfolded metres from the store.

“I just finished my shift and I was walking out and I heard screaming… I sort of heard something drop to the floor, and then everyone started running,” she said.

“I threw my bag to the floor, dragged the table in… (my colleague) dragged the door across and I locked one entrance.”

Forensic officers were focusing on an area outside Cotton On Body in the aftermath of the fight. One of the knives was reported to have been seized inside the store.

A Scentre Group spokesperson, which oversees Westfield centres, on Saturday morning said the Carousel team had acted “swiftly” to notify police of the incident.

“The safety of our customers, business partners and people is our highest priority,” the spokesperson said.

“Our Westfield Carousel team acted swiftly to escalate the incident to police in line with our standard operating procedure.

“Our team are assisting police with their investigation which is ongoing.

“Police have advised that there is no cause for alarm.

“Westfield Carousel is open and we look forward to seeing our customers and community today.

“We are supportive and working with governments around Australia and New Zealand on plans to improve community safety including the important issue of knife reform.”

Speaking to media on Saturday, Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said he was “horrified” over the alleged incident.

“I was horrified to see that incident that occurred here in Perth. And of course, there’s been similar incidents over East recently as well,” he said.

“I think it’s important that we do get the balance right around these issues. I think one of the things we all enjoy about Australia is that we’re not the US, with, you know, that schools have scanning for weapons and things like that.

“But clearly, if there are realistic reasonable protection measures that can be implemented, then they should be considered.”

Cannington Detectives are appealing for any witnesses of the incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestopperswa.com.au.

People reporting information may remain anonymous if they wish.

Anyone with any CCTV, or mobile phone vision of relating to this incident is urged to upload it directly to investigators via this link.