Riot police sent to Far North Queensland community of Aurukun

SPECIALIST riot police are being flown into a Queensland community following growing violence that began on Christmas Eve and led to nine arrests.

Generic views of Arukun , QLD , including kids playing on a council waterslide , the police and court house , and some stree...

SPECIALIST riot police will be flown into Aurukun today as tensions continue to flare in the Cape York community.

Nine people have been arrested following a night of violence on Monday when people armed themselves and fought with rocks and steel poles.

The community’s general store was broken into and two vehicles were stolen.

Several homes and businesses were damaged, along with a vehicle carrying two police officers.

It comes just over a month after a man was allegedly run down by a car.

Far North police Acting Chief Superintendent Rolf Straatemeier said 12 extra police would be flown into the trouble-plagued community today.

These included specialist public order officers from Brisbane and investigators.

He said this would add to the more than 20 already on the ground, which includes officers from Cairns’ Tactical Crime Squad. Aurukun police station is usually served by 10 uniformed officers.

The Courier-Mail understands simmering tensions between two family groups is behind much of the ongoing violence.

One family, who did not want to be named, described spears being thrown into their home during the night, with the man’s wife and young child evacuated from the community yesterday.

They said trouble had been ongoing since Christmas Eve.

Acting Chief Supt Straatemeier said the latest incidents in the dry community were not believed to be alcohol fuelled.

He said there had been ongoing problems since the death of a 30-year-old man in November after he was allegedly hit by a car. Russell James Woolla, 43, has been charged with murder and has been remanded in custody.

“We’re not getting that indication (of alcohol), but since the incident in November there have been some tensions,” he said.

He said there were only small numbers of people involved in the street disturbances, but large groups had gathered to watch.

Food items are believed to have been stolen from the general store.

The Courier-Mail understands simmering tensions between two family groups is behind much of the ongoing violence.

Police said they have not had any reports of injuries.