Updated December 9, 2025 — 12:07pm,first published December 9, 2025 — 8:08am
Save
You have reached your maximum number of saved items.
Remove items from your saved list to add more.
Save this article for later
Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime.
Got it
A Perth court has been told a social media fight is believed to have been the reason a group of boys sent a high school in the city’s north-east into lockdown on Monday after they allegedly stabbed a student.
Three of six boys charged over the attack appeared in Perth Children’s Court on Tuesday, accused of being among a group of boys who walked onto the campus of Ellenbrook Secondary College and sent hundreds of students into lockdown just minutes after the final bell rang.
Ellenbrook Secondary College was sent into lockdown on Monday 9 News Perth
Prosecutors allege the incident stemmed from an online fight between warring gangs representing the north and south of the river, which spilled onto the school grounds when boys from Perth’s southern suburbs allegedly travelled to Ellenbrook to confront their rivals.
The court was told the boys took a train to Ellenbrook and then went to the local high school, where the confrontation occurred on a nearby footpath.
Some of the youths ran back to the school for safety, but prosecutors told the court others gave chase and three of the group allegedly “cornered” a 15-year-old boy and cut him with a knife and hit him in the head.
The boy was able to make it back to the school and was given medical treatment as the school went into lockdown.
The group of alleged attackers left the scene, removed their clothes and ditched their weapons in nearby bins before being arrested by police.
On Tuesday, one of the boys, a 15-year-old, was granted bail with conditions, although the magistrate said she was aware he had prior charges relating to weapons possession and the offences he was suspected of were extremely serious.
Protection orders were issued for the victim, and a 24-hour bail order meant the accused boy could not attend school.
“Given the nature of the conflict I am not prepared to allow you to go to school,” the magistrate said.
Related Article
She said the Department of Education would have to make alternative arrangements.
Two of the other boys – aged 14 and 16 – had their court appearances adjourned, with a duty lawyer indicating they both also intended to make bail applications at a later date.
On Monday, WA Police Inspector Gary Butler described the incident as a targeted attack and said there were no safety concerns for the broader public.
“This is a tragic and completely unacceptable situation,” he said.
“All students have the right to feel safe when they’re at school.”
One teen is still sought by police over the incident.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
Save
You have reached your maximum number of saved items.
Remove items from your saved list to add more.
Most Viewed in NationalFrom our partners