Curfew calls deflected, five arrested and two hospitalised over Larapinta ‘disturbances’

Street brawls, two hospitalised and vehicles alight in an Alice Springs suburb have not been enough for the Territory’s new curfew laws to be enacted. Watch the video.

The Territory’s top brass has deflected another curfew after terrifying scenes emerged from a suburb in Alice Springs.

Over the weekend, police were on Lyndavale Drive in Larapinta responding to a vehicle fire on Friday and a “large group” brawling in the street with weapons Saturday – which has left two people in hospital.

But Chief Minister Eva Lawler and Police Minister Brent Potter would not confirm if a curfew will be enacted just days after the new laws passed parliament. 

Mr Potter is expecting more arrests to be made “over the coming days” in relation to the unrest but would not say if he would enact another curfew.

“With extra resources on the ground, Northern Territory Police were able to act swiftly to restore calm to the community, sending in frontline officers, operation Grimmel, dog squad operations, Southern Traffic, Strike Force Viper and Detectives from Regional Crime,” he said.

The vehicle which was set alight on Lyndavale Drive had been removed by Sunday, May 26, but charred remains were still present and the ground still muddy from the firefighters.

Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister said she was “happy to have those conversations” with the police minister over imposing another curfew in Alice Springs.

But Ms Lawler said she wasn’t up to date on the situation as she was at “the Million Paws walk running a barbecue this morning.”

“I’ll be happy to have those conversations with the police commissioner today around that specific incident,” she said – but stressed she needed to be briefed on the incident first.

Mr Potter confirmed that the two briefed over the “two large disturbances in Alice Springs,” and said “keeping Territorians safe and stamping out situations like this is exactly why the Territory Labor government brought in new curfew legislation.”

Police confirmed that five people had been arrested in relation to the unrest and said the two groups brawling “are believed to be known to each other.”

One of the injured is needing surgery in Adelaide, according to police.

“All those arrested remain in custody with charges expected to follow,” police said, who are urging anyone with information to get in contact on 131 444.