A 34-year-old male was shot in the arm with a crossbow bolt during a clash involving bladed weapons at a Northern Territory (NT) community.
Around 4:15 a.m. on Jan. 7, NT police received multiple reports that up to 15 people were fighting with weapons near a health centre in Wadeye, a remote community located about 395 km southwest of the NT capital Darwin.
Police said officers dispersed the group, with the man later airlifted to Darwin for treatment of serious but non-life-threatening injuries after a crossbow bolt became lodged in his arm.
Police stated the Jan. 7 brawl was linked to an earlier dispute in the same community two days earlier, which involved as many as 100 people, some of whom were armed with edged weapons.
On the morning of Jan. 5, police arrived on Perjert Street to find five individuals involved in an altercation, with up to 100 community members watching.
Police, assisted by community elders, intervened and seized two edged weapons and a glass window panel.
A 22-year-old female suffered a foot injury and was transported to Royal Darwin Hospital, while a 24-year-old female was treated at the local clinic for minor wrist injuries.
Recent Unrest in NT Communities
The latest Wadeye disturbance follows a series of unrest across NT communities of Maningrida and Ramingining, since late December 2024.
Between Jan. 1 and Jan. 4, police responded to a large number of disputes in Maningrida, some involving more than 200 people allegedly armed with bladed weapons.
Ten people were arrested, including one 31-year-old man who allegedly drove recklessly through the community, nearly striking a police vehicle before crashing his car.
“The unrest is attributable to historical and ongoing tensions fuelled by social media and retribution,” a NT Police spokesperson told The Epoch Times.
Shortly before Christmas, fighting involving 40 people erupted in Ramingining.
Two men were taken to the local clinic with non-life-threatening injuries, while a 40-year-old man was arrested and charged with aggravated assault.
“No firearms were reported to have been used in any of the incidents,” the spokesperson said.
NT police said they had held a number of meetings with community members to help stabilise the situation.
“Investigations into the incidents remain ongoing, and further arrests are expected in relation to the alleged assaults on police,” the spokesperson said.
“The restoration of calm has been largely community-led, with the support of the Northern Territory Police Force.”
NT Police also urged anyone with information to contact them at 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 for anonymous reports.
