Police have been attacked with arrows, rocks, and metal bars during a night of violence in a troubled remote aboriginal community in the Northern Territory.
Officers spotted a large group of armed males descending on the community of Wadeye at about 5.30pm on Sunday, with some seen moving through bushland in an attempt to avoid detection.
Northern Territory Police said the group “immediately became hostile” after encountering police, and began throwing rocks, window louvres, metal bars and other projectiles at police and police vehicles, causing damage.
The group then ignored police directions to disperse, and a person armed with a compound bow fired an arrow at officers, striking a police vehicle.
Police said “tactical options were deployed” and the group retreated.
Superintendent Virginia Read said the attack was an “appalling display of violence”.
“There is absolutely no justification for this behaviour. Our officers are in Wadeye to protect the community and prevent further violence, and they should not be subjected to deliberate and potentially deadly attacks while carrying out that duty,” she said.
“The fact that people continued to advance on police despite repeated directions to disperse demonstrates an alarming disregard for the safety of police, residents and the wider community.
“An arrow, rock or piece of metal directed at another person or a moving vehicle has the potential to cause catastrophic injury or death. Those choosing to participate in this violence need to understand the seriousness of their actions.
“Police will continue working with community leaders and residents to restore calm, but those responsible for criminal behaviour will be identified, investigated and held to account.”
The attack came after a week of unrest in the violence-plagued community, which is home to about 2,000 people from 28 clans, and police have seized large numbers of weapons, including compound bows and crossbows, in recent months.
Several large-scale clan feud-related disturbances erupted in the first three months of the year, and last week police said crossbows, rocks and metal louvres were used in three massive brawls sparked by the death of a member of the community on August 1.
Header image: Left, bows and alcohol previously seized in Wadeye (NT Police). Right, Wadeye Police Station (9News).
