One dead, three in hospital after ‘major incident’ in Yirrkala: NT Police

UPDATE: POLICE have arrested a man in relation to the death of a 16-year-old boy in the Yirrkala fight, police say.

A major incident is unfolding in Yirrkala where at least one person is dead and two are in hospital with serious injuries.

• Community mourns for teen allegedly killed in large brawl
• Man arrested after Yirrkala death

UPDATE: A 49-YEAR-OLD man as been arrested in relation to the death of a boy in Yirrkala on Wednesday afternoon.

According to NT Police, the man was arrested Friday afternoon after handing himself in, following community advice.

The boy died from stab wounds after a fight broke out on the oval in the East Arnhem community.

Three other men also suffered stab wounds in the fight, which police say involved between 50 and 100 people.

Police say tensions had been mounting in the days before the fight broke out.

Detectives from Darwin were flown to the community on Wednesday afternoon and have stayed to investigate over the past few days.

The man who handed himself in was taken to Darwin where he will be interviewed by Major Crime detectives.

A number of events scheduled in the East Arnhem region this weekend, including the football fixture, have been cancelled by community out of respect to family.

If anyone has any information about Wednesday’s incident they are urged to call police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

EARLIER UPDATE: Tensions had been mounting in Yirrkala before a large fight involving up to 100 people broke out on Wednesday and a 16-year-old boy was killed, police say.

Assistant Commissioner Michael White said no arrests had been made in relation to the incident as of Thursday afternoon, 24 hours after the incident occurred.

“There have been no arrests made at this stage,” he said.

Assistant Commissioner Michael White. Picture: GLENN CAMPBELL

“Obviously you can imagine with the large disturbance that occurred, there’s a significant amount of witnesses we have to identify and obtain their statements.

“And to gather the evidence we have to prioritise the crime scenes, securing as much forensic evidence as possible.”

He said police understand there was some tension in the community prior to the Wednesday’s brawl.

“That will all form part of the investigation and a report to the Coroner will cover on that as well,” he said.

EARLIER: A 16-YEAR-OLD boy is dead and at least three others are in hospital after a large fight in the remote Territory town of Yirrkala.

Emergency services were first called to the oval, on the western side of the town, about 2.40pm yesterday after the large melee broke out.

There they found between 50 and 100 people brawling.

NT Police confirmed during the fight, a 16-year-old boy died from stab wounds.

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Another three men – aged 18, 40 and 45 – were taken to the Gove District Hospital by St John Ambulance, where they remained yesterday evening. They had also received stab wounds but their injuries were not life-threatening.

It is not yet clear what the exact weapons were that were being used in the fight, but some reports included axes.

It is understood just a few weeks ago there was a similar incident in the town, also at the oval. In that incident about 60 people gathered to fight, using weapons such as machetes.

NT Police had last night established crime scenes and additional resources had been sent to Yirrkala to investigate the death and community unrest but no arrests had been made as this paper went to print.

St John Ambulance has just one unit in the area, believed to service Nhulunbuy, Yirrkala and the surrounding homelands, meaning the crew had to do multiple trips between the southern town and the hospital in Gove (Nhulunbuy).

At 5.30pm yesterday, those crews were still attending the scene, which a spokesperson said was a “major incident”.

Mulka MLA Yingiya Guyula said he was saddened by the incident. “The news from Yirrkala is very distressing,” he said. “My thoughts are with the families and the whole community at this time.

“I’m calling on elders and police to work together to calm the community and find a peaceful path through this trauma.”

Chief Minister Michael Gunner said he was deeply concerned and asked for a full report of the incident.

About 900 people live in Yirrkala, on the east coast of the Gove Peninsula in northeast Arnhem Land, 18km south of Nhulunbuy.

Anyone with more information is urged to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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