Up to 100 aboriginals from rival clans have fought each other with “traditional weapons” in a town camp on the outskirts of the troubled Northern Territory town of Tennant Creek.
The Northern Territory Police Force said three men had been arrested over the violent disturbance, which is believed to be related to a family feud and erupted at about 1pm on Sunday, leaving a 44-year-old man with serious injuries.
Three vehicles were also set on fire during the clashes, which involved between 80 and 100 people and continued even after police arrived.
The injured man was taken to Tennant Creek Hospital by ambulance for treatment, and police seized a number of weapons at the scene, and released a photo showing spears, clubs, boomerangs, swords, axes, crossbows, star pickets, knives, shields and metal poles.
Acting Commander Peter Dash said police were working with “affected families and communities to attempt to conciliate this ongoing tension and prevent feuds”, and looking into whether it would affect visiting AFLNT football teams.
“Police confirm that this disturbance is related to an ongoing feud involving families from outlying communities and is related to a couple of fatal vehicle crashes in the region over the last couple of years,” he said on Monday.
“NT Police has been working closely with AFLNT, Patta Aboriginal Corporation and other service delivery partners in Tennant Creek to ensure scenes like this did not occur in our town.
“We are extremely disappointed that these families chose to attend Tennant Creek armed with a variety of traditional and improvised weapons, intent on causing harm to others. This behaviour is disgraceful and disrespectful to the traditional owners of Tennant Creek and the community of Tennant Creek.
“This behaviour will not be tolerated. Anyone who chooses to engage in this level of violence can expect to be identified, arrested and brought before the courts.”
The three men were charged with a number of offences, including going armed in public and violent disorder, and have been remanded in custody.
Header image: Weapons seized after the clashes (NT Police).
The post Up to 100 aboriginals with ‘traditional weapons’ fight in town camp first appeared on The Noticer.
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