Australian Aboriginal girl murdered, suspect taken into custody following riots

A group of protesters gathered at Alice Springs Hospital in the Northern Territory on Friday after a man suspected of murdering a five-year-old girl was taken into custody by police. The suspect, Jefferson Lewis, 47, had been identified as a person of interest earlier in the week and had past convictions for physical assault.

According to authorities, approximately 400 people gathered at the hospital, where Lewis was being held. The crowd became violent, with protesters throwing projectiles and lighting fires, resulting in injuries to several police officers and medical workers. Police vehicles, ambulances, and fire trucks were also damaged during the chaos.

Police used tear gas to disperse the protesters, and Northern Territory Police Commissioner Martin Dole stated that the violence erupted when Lewis presented himself to police at one of the town camps in Alice Springs. The girl’s body was found on Thursday during a search by hundreds of people in dense bushland around the town.

Lewis has been moved to Darwin for his safety, where he is likely to be charged in the coming days. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Robin Granites, a senior Aboriginal elder and spokesperson for the family, have appealed for calm and restraint in the community. A day-long ban on takeaway alcohol sales will also be enforced in the town to prevent further escalation.

The Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro announced that more police would be arriving from Darwin to maintain order. The incident has sparked a reaction from the community, with some calling for “payback” – a traditional form of punishment in Aboriginal societies.

Source: Al Jazeera