Police are investigating a filmed group attack on a young boy in Ellenbrook, Western Australia, as officers work with his family and warn against naming those allegedly involved online.
The assault is understood to have taken place at Coolamon Oval on Saturday. Footage showing the boy being beaten and threatened with a knife has circulated widely on social media.
Midland District Detective Inspector Gary Butler said a number of parents had contacted police, while officers continued to work with the victim’s family on an official complaint.
“A number of the people involved, their parents have come forward,” he told Radio 6PR.
The incident is understood to have begun as an alleged robbery, with the attackers reportedly demanding the boy’s vape before ordering him to hand over his clothes.
One of the most serious moments in the footage shows a large knife being brandished while the boy remains on the ground being assaulted.
Police said the boy was fortunate not to have suffered more severe injuries. “He’s holding up well at the minute, and we’re providing all the support we can give to him,” Mr Butler said.
He said police hoped to provide the community with “reassuring outcomes” on the progress of the investigation and help restore calm.
There has been an outpouring of support for the boy and his family, including offers of assistance and plans for a fundraising car cruise.
Tania Lawrence, the federal MP for Hasluck, said she was “absolutely heartbroken” after seeing the footage.
“I can’t begin to imagine what he and his family have been through,” she said in a social media post. “No person should ever experience something so horrific, and no family should have to endure such heartbreak.”
Police Minister Reece Whitby said the knife had created the potential for a fatal outcome and warned those responsible would face “serious consequences”.
“We will make sure that the law is enforced because this is unacceptable,” he said.
The spread of the video has also reignited debate over the Western Australian Government’s proposed “post and boast” legislation, which has stalled in the upper house.
Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas accused the government of “sitting on their hands”, while Mr Whitby blamed the Opposition and the Greens for the delay. The Greens have previously voiced concerns that the legislation could restrict protests.
Mr Butler urged social media users not to identify the alleged attackers or their relatives in online comments.
“Can people be 100 per cent sure who they’re naming? And, you know, we don’t want innocent people to be caught up in this,” he said.
“It’s very easy to sit on your phone and type things, but we really need to think of A, the community, and B, the family and then their extended family, because violence isn’t the answer.”
