Ellenbrook Secondary College stabbing: Motive, shocking claims about ‘South Side’ gang revealed in court

An armed attack outside an Ellenbrook school which left one boy stabbed and the college in lockdown was sparked by a fight on social media, a court has been told. Teenagers from a gang called “South Side” were allegedly armed with knives and an axe when they travelled from south of the Swan River to Ellenbrook Secondary College in Perth’s north on Monday afternoon following “online abuse,” it was alleged. Three boys aged 14, 15, and 16 appeared in Perth Children’s Court on Tuesday facing a number of charges including unlawful wounding and assault occasioning bodily harm. Prosecutor Patrick Cavagin said a group of about 11 teenagers approached two students leaving school about 3pm on Monday with one shouting: “Oi! That’s them.” Police allege the group ran towards the pair with three of them pulling out edged weapons, including an axe from backpacks. A 15-year-old boy was allegedly caught by the group with one member swinging his arm multiple times in an attempt to stab the victim eventually piercing the underside of his left bicep, it was alleged. The youth was struck again with a weapon to the head. Police allege the group then ran away while the injured student went back to school for help. The boy was taken to hospital with a 1cm wound to his arm and a 1cm wound to the right side of his head. The court was told the group ran to Ellenbrook train station, discarding clothes and weapons in bins which were later retrieved by police. Six youths were arrested by police in relation to the attack about 4pm. CCTV showed the moment one of the teens was arrested after a police officer shouted at him to get on the ground. All six, two aged 16, two aged 14, a 15 year-old and a 13 year-old have since been charged with unlawful wounding, assault occasioning bodily harm, being armed to cause fear and disorderly behaviour. One of the 14-year-olds was also charged with carrying an edged weapon. The court was told CCTV footage was obtained showing several members of the group carrying weapons, mainly knives Mr Cavagin said the attack “appeared to have stemmed from online abuse,” causing a “gang called South Side to travel north of the river and go to the school.” Three of the co-accused aged 16, 15 and 14 appeared in custody with only one applying for bail. The bail application by the 15 year-old was opposed by the prosecution. Mr Cavagin said bail was opposed due to the serious nature of the offences which involved a large number of youths that could participate in further offending. “This is a school of a large number of youths, there are expectations from the public that their school children can go to school in safety without being attacked,” he said. Magistrate Alana Padmanabham granted bail saying the boy had a “qualified,” right to not be kept in custody but ordered he be put on a 24-hour curfew at a home in Huntingdale. The boy’s mother was present in court and wiped away tears as the facts of the case were read out. He will only be able to leave the house in the company on an adult that has been approved of by the court. The other boys are set to be assessed for bail with formal applications expected to be made at their next court appearances later in December. Three more boys aged, 16, 14 and 13 are set to appear in court at a later date. The armed attack right after the final bell forced students and staff back to their classroom. It took an hour and 20 minutes for police to declare the scene safe. It is reported about 50 students huddled in the front office watching the attackers on CCTV monitors. The injured boy, who suffered a puncture wound to his bicep, was taken to St John of God Midland hospital. His injuries are not life-threatening and he was in a stable condition on Monday. Several police cars were patrolling around the school grounds on Tuesday morning. Mother of two daughters, Kajin, who didn’t want her surname used, said her children called her in fear during the lockdown. “They are just kids, you know, they were scared,” she said. “Of course I was scared, I didn’t know what was going to happen to them.”