Northern Territory Police have arrested a 34-year-old man following the serious assault of a 21-year-old man in Wadeye last Friday afternoon.

The alleged victim was travelling as a passenger in a vehicle from Manthape when a rock was allegedly thrown at the vehicle, striking him in the head. He suffered serious head injuries and was medically evacuated to Royal Darwin Hospital in a critical but stable condition.

The arrest follows a period of unrest in Wadeye following the passing of a local community member on 1 August 2026.

Since then, Wadeye Police have responded to three large disturbances involving numerous people, some allegedly armed with weapons including crossbows, rocks and metal louvres.

Members of the Territory Support Division were deployed to Wadeye to support local police in restoring community safety and progressing investigations into those allegedly involved in the disturbances.

Superintendent Virginia Read said police were determined to hold those responsible for violence to account.

“Wadeye has been disrupted by far too many incidents of violence and it needs to stop. People have a right to feel safe in their homes and in their own community.

“Our officers have been working in extremely challenging circumstances alongside community members to restore calm and identify those responsible.

“We will not tolerate violence or people putting others in the community at risk. Those who choose to engage in this behaviour can expect police to investigate, make arrests and put alleged offenders before the courts.”

Wadeye experienced a number of significant disturbances earlier this year, particularly throughout January and February, which resulted in 83 people being arrested during a dedicated police operation.