The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested three men following a violent disturbance at a town camp near Tennant Creek yesterday afternoon.
Around 1pm, police received reports of a large group of people fighting with weapons and three vehicles on fire.
Police attended the scene and found a large-scale disturbance involving between 80 and 100 people armed with a variety of weapons. Police dispersed the crowd; however, several altercations continued upon their arrival.
A 44-year-old man was located among the crowd with serious injuries and was taken to Tennant Creek Hospital by St John Ambulance for treatment.
Police seized a number of weapons at the scene, and investigations into the incident remain ongoing.
Three men have since been arrested in relation to the disturbance. They have been charged with a number of offences, including going armed in public and violent disorder, and have been remanded in custody.
Detectives from the Tennant Creek Investigations Unit continue to investigate the serious harm of the 44-year-old man, with further charges expected.
Superintendent Peter Dash said, “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.
“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.
“NT Police will continue to work with the affected families and communities to attempt to conciliate this ongoing tension and prevent feuds. NT Police will be speaking with AFLNT to determine whether there are consequences for the visiting football teams.”
