A 22-year-old man has suffered serious injuries in a spear attack during a disturbance involving about 100 people in the remote Northern Territory community of Wadeye, police said.
The man was struck in the back with a three-pronged spear during a confrontation between two family groups on Monday night. Officers were called at about 11.45pm after reports that people were allegedly carrying compound bows, spears and metal objects.
Police entered a residence and safely removed the injured man before taking him to the Wadeye Health Clinic for treatment.
A vehicle near the rear of a residential property was also set alight after allegedly being surrounded by members of one of the groups, according to a police statement.
Additional officers were recalled to duty as police responded to the unrest and worked to restore order in the community, which is 395 kilometres south-west of Darwin.
The incident came days after 13 people were charged following a series of disturbances in Wadeye. Ten men and three women, aged between 19 and 45, were remanded in custody on Saturday.
Police allege a small group had continued to “inflict fear and disruption” in the township, prompting an increased police presence. Officers said they were “fed up” with the violence after the 13 people were charged with more than 50 offences.
The charges include recklessly endangering life, taking part in a riot, arson, going armed in public and theft.
Police said incidents since early August had included fighting, the use of weapons, deliberately lit fires, damage to homes and vehicles, aggravated burglaries and dangerous driving.
