Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Weapons used in booze-fuelled NT brawls
Northern Territory police say dozens of people armed with edged weapons have been involved in violent alcohol-fuelled fighting at multiple locations.
December 15, 2022
More than 100 people armed with weapons have been involved in violent alcohol-fuelled fighting at multiple locations across the Northern Territory.
Police were called to an incident at a remote Tiwi Island community about 9pm on Wednesday.
Officers dispersed a crowd of about 100 and a number of people with minor injuries were taken to a local medical clinic for treatment.
“This behaviour is completely unacceptable,” Commander Kylie Anderson said on Thursday.
“Alcohol-fuelled violence will not be tolerated. The community as a whole needs to stand up and say enough is enough.”
On the same night, officers in Alice Springs broke up a crowd of about 50 people fighting near Railway Terrace in the centre of the town, with one edged weapon seized.
Police were also called to a melee in the town’s north where they found two teenagers with lacerations and arrested a 30-year-old man.
The 17 and 18-year-old were taken to Alice Springs Hospital for treatment and one had emergency surgery but the other teen fled.
Earlier in the night, officers seized 11 edged and two blunt weapons after they caught a group of people fleeing the scene of a fight on the town’s east side.
Acting Commander Kirsten Engels said the incidents were “all incredibly violent”.
“At this stage it is believed both the east side and Railway Terrace incidents are linked and investigations are continuing,” she said.