Fight between 40 people with weapons erupts in remote aboriginal community

Police have been deployed to keep the peace in a remote aboriginal community in the Northern Territory after a series of huge brawls erupted on the weekend where combatants appeared to wield spears.

Northern Territory Police said officers were first called to a fight between about 40 people allegedly armed with a range of blunt and edged weapons outside the local clinic in Ramingining, about 560km east of Darwin in Arnhem Land, at about 4.45pm on Saturday.

Officers intervened with help from local elders and community members and the group dispersed, but at 1.30pm on Sunday police again received reports of multiple people fighting with weapons.

Police said two men suffered non-life threatening injuries and were taken to the clinic, while a 40-year-old man was arrested and charged with aggravated assault. Additional police resources were then deployed as part of a “surge response” to restore order in the community, which has a population of about 900.

A series of large brawls between up to 40 armed combatants have erupted in the remote aboriginal community of Ramingining in the Northern Territory.

At least one man appears to be armed with a spear.

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Video of one of the brawls was posted on social media and appears to show men armed with stick or spears, and two groups can be seen facing off in the rain as women and children yell and scream in the background.

Another video shows a 4WD with a smashed window and people fighting in the mud as a police vehicle arrives.

Superintendent Jody Knobbs said the behaviour was deeply concerning.

“The escalation of violence we saw over the weekend is simply not acceptable. Police are committed to maintaining safety in Ramingining, however lasting change cannot be achieved by enforcement alone,” he said.

“We are calling on community leaders and elders to work alongside police and other stakeholders to help resolve conflict, reinforce cultural authority and support peaceful outcomes.”

“Strong community leadership is critical to preventing further violence and keeping everyone safe.”

Header image: Left, right, the large-scale disturbance that allegedly took place on Sunday (Facebook).

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