Community unrest at Wadeye 22 January

Northern Territory Police are continuing to respond to ongoing disturbances in the remote community of Wadeye.

Since Saturday, police have been responding to reports of up to 300 people fighting within the community utilising various homemade weapons and driving vehicles dangerously.

A 26-year-old man who was allegedly struck with a window louvre on Saturday and conveyed to the local clinic for treatment while an 18-year-old female was struck in the chest with an unknown object yesterday and also required medical attention at the clinic.

The crowds dispersed each time, only for another disturbance to occur around 3am this morning with a 19-year-old male allegedly struck with an arrow in his upper leg. He was conveyed to Royal Darwin Hospital where he remains receiving treatment.

NT Police are continuing to monitor the situation, deploying additional resourcing as necessary for both member fatigue and community safety.

Acting Commander Virginia Read said “The behaviour police have been responding to over the past 2 months remains completely unacceptable.”

“There is no excuse for the large scale fighting and criminal damage that is currently occurring within the community, as well as the continuous assaults on police members and damage to police assets.

“NT Police are committed to maintaining community safety and to help facilitate solutions to this violence. We will continue to work with Elders, Traditional Owners, other government agencies and the community itself as these incidents require everyone to step up, take responsibility and start implementing solutions”.

/Public Release. View in full here.