‘War zone’: Kim Coghlan allegedly rammed by stolen vehicle, six arrested after Mount Isa rampage

Youths allegedly use stolen vehicle in a rampage throughout Mount Isa, sending schools into lockdown. WATCH THE VIDEO.

A Mount Isa councillor took herself to the hospital after allegedly being hit by a stolen car she was ‘following’ and attempted to cut off at a service station.

Residents of the North West Queensland town have described “war zone” like scenes sparked by an allegedly stolen car allegedly ramming, threatening people and destroying parks across the town.

Multiple schools went into varying degrees of lockdown.

Cr Kim Coghlan’s vehicle was allegedly rammed by a white 4WD on Thursday morning. People in the community allege the vehicle was stolen and being driven dangerously.

“How they did not cause an accident I do not know,” she said.

The vehicle has yet to be recovered.

It is alleged there were five youths in the vehicle which rammed Cr Coghlan from behind at the traffic lights.

“I’m not the first person this has [allegedly] happened to, the police, they get targeted all the time.”

Six youths aged 10 to 14 have been arrested, and are expected to be charged with various offences.

Sunset State School moved all their students to the basketball courts in the middle of the school, Spinifex State College Junior Campus went into a full lockdown, Saint Joseph’s primary had a ‘soft lockdown’ and kept all the students indoors, and St Kieran’s locked the main gates until they got the all-clear from police.

Mount Isa councillor Kim Coghlan.

Police are still looking for the white Pajero. The car has pink car recovery tracks on the roof, a smashed front window and has not been seen since about 8.40am on Thursday, Mount Isa Sergeant Adam King said.

“There were plenty of near misses. Very dangerous,” Sgt King said.

The vehicle had allegedly been driven at a school-aged child who had to jump out of the way, and then a caretaker at another school was badly shaken up after being targeted in a similar way.

The carload tore up parks, did burnouts on new basketball courts and smashed up council gates and a bore system, Cr Coghlan said.

“This goes back on the government, not the police, they’re doing their best. All that’s going to happen is they’re going to get let out again.”

Cr Coghlan took herself to hospital after the ramming “wrecked” her car, and was a bit sore but OK, she said.

Traeger MP Robbie Katter has again thrown up relocation sentencing as an option for youth crime. Picture: Blair Jackson.

Traeger MP Robbie Katter arrived back in Mount Isa on Thursday and had the morning’s scene described to him as a “war zone”.

“I’m just very angry because you feel like you’re getting somewhere with the government and it’s pretty simple. We need to provide these kids with a consequence,” Mr Katter said.

Youth crime issues “continue to plague our state”, he said.

The Traeger MP reiterated the Katter’s Australian Party commitment to relocation sentencing, and brought the incident to the attention of the Police and Youth Justice Ministers.

“What’s the wake-up call this government needs to precipitate some real action?,” Mr Katter asked.

Police Minister Mark Ryan said it was a “terrifying incident” and “disgraceful and recklessly dangerous behaviour”.

The Minister understood the Department of Education was providing support to the affected schools, with visits from senior regional staff and access to guidance counsellors.

Mr Ryan thanked police for their swift action and arrests.

“This type of behaviour is completely unacceptable. It’s why Queensland has the strongest youth justice laws in the nation,” Mr Ryan said.

Originally published as ‘War zone’: Kim Coghlan allegedly rammed by stolen vehicle, six arrested after Mount Isa rampage