Three people have been arrested after warring aboriginal families allegedly fought with machetes and rocks in the centre of Alice Springs.
Northern Territory Police said officers responded to reports of groups fighting on Gregory Terrace, Todd Street and in the Todd Mall in the violent crime-plagued outback town at about 12.50pm on Friday.
Some were allegedly armed with machetes and were throwing rocks, and a 50-year-old man was taken to hospital with a back laceration after allegedly being attacked with an “edged weapon” by 21-year-old man, police said.
The alleged attacker was arrested in the Todd River after a pursuit, and another 21-year-old man and an 18-year-old woman were also taken into custody, with charges expected to be laid.
A video shared by popular social media account Action for Alice 2020 shows a man wielding a machete in the street, while footage obtained by The Australian showed a least three people armed with machetes
Police sources told the publication it was believed the alleged fight was caused by warring families, and a local who filmed some of the alleged incident said he heard people yelling “get weapons” when the fight broke out, and that tensions in the town were at “boiling point”.
“It was surreal, like we know the streets of Alice aren’t safe, there’s so much going on,” he said.
“I’ve seen machetes being used, I’ve seen traditional weapons, but we’re at boiling point. I’m sure if they did searches of cars you’d find machetes in boots, I think the weapons are always in society.
“We’re not seeing the cops on the ground, it’s always a knee-jerk reaction, so after this we’ll find we’ll get a big presence of foot patrols and probably the horseback, and there’ll be a big knee jerk, but we’re at a point now where everything’s been wound down. Anything goes on the streets of Alice.”
Commissioner of Police Martin Dole said the alleged behaviour was “completely unacceptable”.
“Our local police are working tirelessly to identify any outstanding offenders so they can face the consequences of their actions,” he said.
“Resorting to violence in Alice Springs to settle disputes will not be tolerated and it will mean police will continue to make arrests and put you before the courts.”
Header image: A machete-wielding man (Action for Alice 2020).
