A riot involving up to 60 people has erupted in the remote indigenous community of Wadeye in the Northern Territory, on the night before a march against violence.
NT Police said the riot erupted on Wednesday afternoon, and involved dozens of people who threw projectiles at each other and attacked a police Night Patrol vehicle.
Officers responded to reports of a disturbance on Perdjert Street and said that upon arrival “observed a group of up to 60 people engaged in disorderly behaviour and throwing objects at each other”.
“The group then allegedly began throwing projectiles at a nearby Night Patrol vehicle, and officers tactically withdrew to obtain additional resources. Upon their return, the disturbance had subsided,” police said.
Two men later presented at the local clinic with minor injuries believed to have been suffered during the riot, and police put on extra patrols overnight to keep the peace.
The riot came the night before a scheduled rally against violence in the community of 2,000 people from more than a dozen indigenous clans.
On Thursday morning more than 300 participants joined the No More march against domestic, family and sexual violence, which was also attended by local police.
“It was a powerful and inspiring event, highlighting the strength, pride and resilience of the people of Wadeye, who remain committed to ensuring their community is safe, supported and free from violence,” police said after the rally.
The violence comes as Wadeye, one of the largest aboriginal communities in the NT, considers reintroducing liquor sales after 30 years as a dry community in an attempt to combat the problem of black market alcohol.
On Friday police in the region seized 160 bottles of alcohol from four “grog-runner” vehicles, which have an estimated resale value of $800 each in remote communities. The suspected smugglers all fled into bushland and are still on the run.
Header image: The No More march in Wadeye on Thursday (NT Police).
