Cleo Smith rescue: Fears of vigilantes and retribution in the WA town of Carnarvon

Despite an outpouring of love for Cleo Smith and her family, there is also a dark cloud hanging over the township of Carnarvon.

Pink and purple balloons and handwritten Welcome Home signs dot the streets of Carnarvon as locals celebrate the miracle rescue of little Cleo Smith.

Calls had gone out on social media asking for everyone to celebrate the four-year-old being found safe and well prompting the popular Gascoyne Bakery to make huge trays of pink cupcakes to give away in Cleo’s honour.

One news agency worker in town said she had sold out of pink balloons by mid-morning.

Local mum Leticia Andreoli, whose son is in Cleo’s class at St Mary Star of the Sea Catholic School, said there is a feeling of happiness on the streets.

“Walking around town, it feels like this cloud has been lifted,” Ms Andreoli said.

A sign in Carnarvon celebrating Cleo Smith’s return to her family. Picture: Getty Images

In the towns’ pubs on Wednesday night volunteers who were there in the first days of Cleo’s disappearance and helped search the rugged landscape around the Blowholes camp site where she was taken from, came together again to share a drink and salute Cleo’s safe return.

At the Carnarvon Hotel, Jessica Fernihough said: “Your heart skips a beat. (We’re) just so relieved,” she said.

Ms Fernihough said it was impossible to go on social media without seeing posts about the four-year-old.

“Whether it was in Carnarvon, Perth, Exmouth, Geraldton, even people who don’t live in Western Australia. You’ve just seen so much joy, so many comments,” she said.

When WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson and his detectives walked into one of the pubs on Wednesday night for dinner, they were given an impromptu standing ovation from the locals.

Thank you signs in the town of Canarvon after Cleo Smith was found by police. Picture Andrew Ritchie / The West Australian

At the Carnarvon Hotel and Bistro there is also a sign up that simply says “Cleo’s Home”.

The celebrations extended to Perth where public buildings and bridges were lit up in shades of blue to honour the work of the WA police force.

The SES unit - which spent days involved in the land search for Cleo, along with units from Kalbarri, Shark Bay, Eneabba, Geraldton and Exmouth - was jubilant.

“The best news to wake up to this morning,” SES Carnarvon posted on social media.

“We are so relieved for her family.”

Carnarvon Shire President Eddie Smith was speechless when told of her rescue.

“I’m trying to get my head around the fact she’s been found,” he said.

Neighbours look out onto the house where Cleo Smith was rescued by Western Australian Police. Picture: AAP

“I think the whole community should have a day off,” he said.

“It’ll take a bit to absorb, everybody’s been so worried and concerned.”

But despite the tears of joy and outpouring of love for Cleo and her family, there is also a dark cloud hanging over the township.

There are concerns the town is also on a knife edge about what comes next.

There have already been calls for retribution and there is a simmering anger that a long-time local man could have done something like this.

Det Superintendent Rod Wilde was asked if WA Police had brought more officers up from Perth because of community unrest.

But he brushed the question off saying the police had come to help with the investigation.

But locals are expressing fears that when the alleged perpetrator is openly named and charged there will be a backlash.

The Carnarvon hotel and bistro. Picture: Andrew Ritchie / The West Australian

And it has been revealed police are concerned Aboriginal people are being targeted and provoked by racists over the abduction of Cleo.

One caller to Perth radio today said there is already at lot of unease and the “temperature” in the town was rising about the 36-year-old indigenous man in police custody.

There have been calls for justice and retribution and fears of vigilante groups taking action prompting West Australian police commissioner Chris Dawson to meet with about 20 Aboriginal elders to ask for their support to maintain calm in the community.

Amid simmering tensions inflamed by accusations on social media, Mr Dawson asked the elders to talk to people in their community.

It was reported that Mr Dawson also asked them not to take heed of the social media posts.

There have also been concerns expressed that some within the indigenous community are also angry that it was one of their own that is allegedly responsible for abducting Cleo.

But in a welcome turn of events, some of the trolls who heartlessly attacked Cleo’s parents Ellie Smith and Jake Gliddon have been busy apologising today.

One Twitter account said “we want to apologise to the mom and stepdad of #Cleo Smith that we thought you had killed her.