The mother of the teenager involved in the Wakeley stabbing incident expressed her disagreement with the decision to label the attack as a terrorist incident by the police force. She believed that authorities should have waited to interview her son and gather more information before making that determination. Counterterrorism officers visited the family’s home the following day, where the mother voiced her concerns and surrendered her son’s devices and computer for investigation. The family left their home with police escort and have not returned since.
The boy, who had recently turned 16, had been struggling and sought help from school counsellors as well as private psychologists, with little success. He had recently started attending a mosque where his father frequently prayed, although he was not a regular member. The teenager had been on a good-behaviour bond after being charged with various offenses, including being armed with intent, stalking, and damaging property in a previous incident. The armed with intent charge was dropped because he did not possess the weapon himself, but was in the company of someone who did.
The boy’s parents are facing numerous questions about what led their son to allegedly attack the religious leader, as they are unable to provide answers to how he acquired the knife, ended up at the church, or why he carried out the stabbing. This tragic event has sparked a renewed push to establish a youth centre in Lakemba to support vulnerable children and prevent them from being influenced by extremism. Lebanese Muslim Association secretary Gamel Kheir has been advocating for such a facility with the NSW government to provide alternative activities for teenagers beyond mosque attendance.
The boy’s mother had insisted on authorities speaking to her son and investigating his digital footprint before jumping to conclusions. The family has not returned home since the incident and the motives behind the attack remain unclear. The teenager had been seeking therapy for behavioral issues prior to the stabbing and had only recently started attending a mosque with his father. The community is shocked by the incident and struggles to understand what led to the violent outburst.
The incident has sparked discussions about the need for better support services for vulnerable youth in the community to prevent radicalization and extremism. The teenager’s history of behavioral issues and prior charges raise questions about the effectiveness of existing interventions and support systems. The family is struggling to come to terms with the events and provide answers to the authorities and the community about their son’s actions.
The push for a youth centre in Lakemba to provide a safe and supportive environment for teenagers has gained momentum in the wake of the Wakeley stabbing. Leaders in the community are urging for more proactive measures to prevent vulnerable youth from falling into extremist ideologies. The tragic events have highlighted the need for additional resources and support systems for young people at risk of radicalization or engaging in violent behavior.
