The NT administrator has issued a statement calling for unity in the wake of violent riots, following the arrest of a man in connection with the death of a five-year-old.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this story contains the name and image of a deceased Indigenous person.
The Administrator of the Northern Territory has issued a statement calling for calm and unity in the wake of a five-year-old girl’s death, saying the Territory is “hurting”.
Ugly scenes have erupted in Alice Springs after Jefferson Lewis, 47, was arrested and transported under police guard to the local hospital.
It comes about five days after he allegedly abducted a five-year-old girl - identified by her family as Kumanjayi Little Baby.
No charges have been laid against Mr Lewis.
Northern Territory Administrator David Connolly issued a statement where he expressed he shared “the sorrow and anger” felt across the Territory over the child’s death.
“My deepest condolences are with Kumanjayi Little Baby’s family. In grief, words can bring little comfort; yet I trust they will feel, in the days ahead, the care of Territorians,” he said.
Mr Connolly thanked those who searched for the girl for their “compassion and determination”.
“Our Territory is hurting,” he continued.
“Grief is deep and emotions are running high.
“But I ask everyone to remain calm, and to unite in respect.
“Let us look after one another, and let us choose unity, restraint, and compassion.”
About 400 people were involved in a riot at the Alice Springs Hospital where Mr Lewis was taken, with Aboriginal elders telling reporters the unrest on Thursday night “distorts conversation around the incident that’s happened”.
“What took place yesterday was an incident of anger that turned into violence, that had no thinking about the consequence,” CAAC male cultural leader and elder Michael Liddle said.
“And so we don’t condone people from being angry. That’s what these sorts of incidents happen.”
He argued the strength and support the Alice Springs community showed prior to Mr Lewis’ arrest was “undone” by the violence.
“The community of Alice Springs (came) together, service providers, business-owners, searching for a little lady, a little baby that was (allegedly) taken by a monster,” he said.
“That hard work was undone last night by some people who are very angry with the systems, the same systems that create safety and less harm, keeping people safe in Alice Springs.”
He said the attacks on paramedics and emergency services did little to diffuse the tensions.
“The ambulance workers went on lockdown for five hours,” Mr Liddle said.
“So if you had a bleed-out or you had a heart attack in that time, you couldn’t call the ambulances.”
‘We’re coming for you’: Top cop’s furious message after arrest
Police have issued a chilling warning to anyone suspected of harbouring Mr Lewis prior to his arrest on Thursday night.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, NT Police Commissioner Martin Dole said it was “quite clear” someone had been harbouring Mr Lewis before he was discovered and arrested by police.
“It is quite clear to us that somebody knew where he was and somebody was assisting him, for him to be able to appear in Alice Springs last night just confirms to us that he was getting support from somebody,” he said.
He issued a chilling warning to anyone suspected of hiding Mr Lewis: “Look out, because we are coming for you as well”.
‘Carnage’: Calls for calm after arrest sparks riots
Senior Yapa (Warlpiri) elder and the five-year-old’s grandfather Robin Granites urged for residents to remain calm as the community enters its cultural mourning period, known as sorry business.
‘It is time now for sorry business, to show respect for our family and have space for grieving and remembering,” he said.
“Everyone is feeling very upset and emotions are very high, I understand that.
“What has happened this week is not our way. Our children are precious, of course we are feeling angry and hurt at what has happened.”
He said the community must stand by while police complete the next steps.
He said the community were undergoing sorry business and should respect the time needed to grieve.
“If you need to come to join sorry business, that’s fine. But just come for that, then return home please,” he said.
“Now is not the time to be heroes on social media or make trouble.
“We must be mindful Mparntwe is traditional country for Central Arrernte, and East and Western Arrernte as well. We must respect that and their ways.
“We need to be strong for each other, we must respect family and cultural practice. This is the Yapa way.”
Calls for investigation into NT Corrections
National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People Sue-Anne Hunter has called for an investigation into the Northern Territory correctional system that “led to (Mr Lewis’) release”.
“As we call for justice, we also call for unity, and we remember the loss that sits at the centre of this,” she said.
“Every child has a right to safety and a bright future.
Senator Lidia Thorpe said there were “broader issues” in the community that needed to be addressed.
“Across the country, and particularly in the Northern Territory, our communities are facing extreme poverty, and a lack of basic services and support,” she said in a statement.
“Governments must do more to ensure communities have the resources and authority to determine their own solutions. “Our families hold the answers and must be trusted and empowered to lead. What we do not need is a return to the interventionist approaches of the past.”
“This was a known perpetrator,” she said.
She also urged for authorities to simmer the tensions across the community, so the family can continue their sorry business.
“At this time, NT Police must focus on de-escalation,” she said.
“They should be working to bring the temperature down, not inflame tensions. The President of the Northern Territory Police Association calling for further use of force is deeply concerning. What is needed now is calm.
Tangentyere Council director of Anthepe, Cedric Miller, said the government needed to do more to provide services for men who are released from prison without somewhere to go.
“I like to say for our men who get locked up in jail – first thing when they get released from prison, where do they go?” he asked.
“We like to see this government changing things – prison rules, when you come out of prison, you got go straight to your community, to your family, to your country, not back in town.”
Speaking to Today, Northern Territory Legislative Assembly Speaker Robyn Lambley said the scenes on Friday morning were “horrific”.
“The sun’s rising here in Alice Springs,” she said.
“We’re outside the Alice Springs Hospital, and it is … carnage. You can see that it’s been a place where people have gone crazy.
“The service station across the road has been trashed. The smell of burning garbage is in the air.”
She said the riot was one of the town’s largest.
“To go from being distraught and bereft yesterday after hearing about the loss of little Kumanjayi to now having to deal with probably one of the biggest riots we’ve seen in Alice Springs ever,” she said.
Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said she hoped the events that unfolded in Alice Springs overnight were an “isolated incident”.
“Attacks on frontline workers are never acceptable and while we appreciate and understand that people are very angry and grieving, there is never an excuse or acceptability of violence as a response,” she told reporters.
“Police and our emergency services have a very important job to do and we have to let them do that job. And so we are very hopeful that last night was isolated incident.
“It should not define what has been an incredible community effort this week. We have seen this town come together like never before.”
She also confirmed no takeaway alcohol would be available in Alice Springs on Friday, with limited alcohol available between 11am and 2pm Saturday.
Images of the aftermath showed the destruction caused by the rioters overnight.
Smoke billowed from rubbish bins as they laid half burnt-out on the streets of Alice Springs after they were set alight by the enormous crowds. A service station was also hit by the angry residents, with boxes of food thrown across the building and rubbish littered on the floor.
400 people riot outside Alice Springs Hospital
Following Mr Lewis’s arrest, about 400 people gathered at the hospital, screaming and shouting to the man suspected of murdering the little girl.
Police stood outside the hospital, holding riot shields, as the crowds threw rocks and set bins on fire.
Cars were torched across the hospital as officers deployed tear gas and rubber bullets to try to disperse the crowd.
Speaking to ABC Radio on Friday, Commissioner Matt Dole said the scenes were “not acceptable”.
“It’s an aberration, and it’s not reflective of what we’ve seen from the community of Alice Springs in the last five days,” he said.
“This community has pulled together, it’s walked shoulder-to-shoulder in the search for Kumanjayi Little Baby and the violent outpouring that we saw last night, the attacks on police and emergency services personnel.”
One woman was arrested for allegedly trying to set fire to a bin, Mr Dole confirmed on Friday.
One police car was completely destroyed and four others were damaged during the riots.
“Four of the five ambulances available were taken out of action and damaged and fire rescue vehicles were also damaged,” he said.
He said the dust has since settled, but said more arrests were likely to be made on Friday.
“The violent disorder has been quelled and there is a sense of calm at the moment across Alice Springs,” Mr Dole said.
“We’ve got significant resources this morning targeting those that targeted emergency services last night.”
Mr Dole urged for calm among the residents on Friday.
“What we need now is some compassionate and strong leadership from the Elders,” he said.
“I understand that people are grieving and I understand people are upset, but please let the police do their job.
“This man is now in custody and please do not do anything to jeopardise a future prosecution.”
Mr Dole said Mr Lewis was transported to Darwin for safety reasons.
“Our job, our police swear an oath to serve and protect,” he said. “We don’t get to choose who we protect, so the safety of Mr Lewis was important as well and he’s been relocated to Darwin.”
Mr Lewis was arrested about 10.30pm on Thursday over the alleged abduction and murder of Kumanjayi Little Baby on the outskirts of Alice Springs.
He had been on the run for more than five days after the body of the little girl was found about 5km from where she was last seen in the Old Timers Camp.
“A short time ago, the Northern Territory Police Force located and arrested Jefferson Lewis at a residence in Alice Springs,” a police statement read.
“Further information will be provided early in the morning.”
Mr Dole said charges were expected to be laid against Mr Lewis.
“I do anticipate that there will be charges in the coming days,” he said.
“And as soon as I have those details, we’ll make some announcements in relation to that.”
Footage of the dramatic arrest shows Mr Jefferson lying on the grass as officers pin him down.
Police said Mr Lewis handed himself in to a town camp about 9.30pm on Thursday.
Mr Lewis was slammed to the ground at Charles Creek Camp after vigilantes found him and allegedly beat him to a pulp, witnesses told reporters.
Mr Lewis was unconscious at the time of his arrest, Mr Dole said.
Mr Lewis been transported to another hospital in Darwin, where he remains under police supervision.
“My understanding is that he identified himself to community members there after intense pressure and media pressure calling for him to make himself known,” Mr Dole said.
“Our police officers were attacked at that time, as were the St John Ambulance crew that attended to assist.
“We deployed all of the police resources available to that Alice Springs hospital and we ensured that nobody got to him.
“He’s still safely in police custody now but in Darwin.”
The community has been rocked by the little girl’s death.
Flowers and tribute cards have been laid at the camp where Kumanjayi Little Baby vanished on Saturday evening.
The family of Kumanjayi Little Baby issued a statement following the discovery of her remains.
“To Kumanjayi Little Baby, me and Ramsiah miss and love you,” they said.
“I know you are in heaven with the rest of the family with Jesus and the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
“Me and your brother will meet you one day.
“It is going to be so hard to live the rest of our lives without you.
“Ramsiah wants to tell you that when he sees you in heaven, he is going to give you the biggest hug ever.
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