Violence erupted in Alice Springs, a remote town in northern Australia, following the arrest of a man suspected of murdering a five-year-old Indigenous girl. Jefferson Lewis, 47, was taken into custody late Thursday night, prompting a crowd to attack him before police intervened.
The girl, referred to by her family as Kumanjayi Little Baby in line with Indigenous customs, was reported missing from her home on Saturday. Her body was found on Thursday, about 5km south of the original crime scene. Police commissioner Martin Dole stated that Lewis likely received assistance from community members to evade capture.
When officers brought Lewis to a local hospital, hundreds of angry residents gathered, demanding “payback” – a traditional form of punishment under Aboriginal law. The situation escalated into rioting, with rocks and bottles thrown, vehicles set alight, and property damaged. Police used rubber bullets and tear gas to control the crowd.
The unrest continued into Friday, leaving streets littered with debris. Lewis was later transferred to Darwin for his safety. Dole confirmed that police officers and ambulance crews were attacked by about 200 people but managed to get Lewis to hospital.
Indigenous leaders urged calm, with Michael Liddle, an Alyawarre man, stating that invoking “payback” fuels violence. The girl’s grandfather, Robin Granites, called for letting justice take its course. Charges against Lewis are expected in the coming days.
