Police are appealing for assistance from the public in helping identify a man who is believed to have assaulted a six-year-old boy in Alice Springs last night.

The boy's mother alerted police after he rode his bike home around 6.30pm in Smith Street. The boy told his mother he had been riding his bike near his Smith Street residence when he was approached by an unknown man who enticed him into bushland and allegedly assaulted him.

The man is described as being of Aboriginal appearance wearing a dark coloured long-sleeved shirt and black faded jeans.

Alice Springs Detectives are currently investigating the incident and are appealing to any who was in the vicinity of the Lovegrove Drive - Smith Street intersection between 6pm and 6.30pm and who may have seen the boy riding his bike in the area to come forward.

Anyone with any information should phone police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Media contact:
Theresa kuilboer
(08)89 223531