Unrest follows Northern Territory police shooting of Kumanjayi Walker in Yuendumu

Unrest has continued in several parts of the Northern Territory following the recent fatal police shooting of an indigenous teenager.

Grandmother of Kumanjayi Walker Anna Dixon from Kintore (centre, left) and the second grandmother of Kumanjayi Walker, Margaret Brown of Yuendumu (centre) and an unidentified mourner, and artist Robin Granites (background, second from left) at a Protest march over his death, Alice Springs. Picture: Chloe Erlich

Unrest has continued in several parts of the Northern Territory following the recent fatal police shooting of an indigenous teenager.

A group of at least 30 youths left a trail of destruction in Alice Springs in the early hours of Friday, with police vehicles and at least six local businesses damaged. The main entrance of the Alice Springs Town Council building was damaged, with one glass door completely smashed in.

The group then entered council premises, stealing an eftpos machine and a jar of lollies.

Investigations are ongoing.

Local business owner Nick Bitar attributed the damage to bored kids “out looking for things to do”. He said an increased number of young people were in town with their parents to attend demonstrations against the shooting death of Kumanjayi Walker, 19.

Willowra police station, 300km northwest of Alice Springs, was broken into at the weekend, with a group of locals smashing windows, damaging property and stealing goods.

There were also reports that more than 100 locals surrounded Galiwinku police station in the state’s far north, with officers having to barricade themselves inside and call for help.

The increase in violence, particularly towards police, in remote NT towns comes as thousands of people across the country have protested peacefully in solidarity with the Yuendumu community after the shooting.

Police have said officers went to Mr Walker’s home to arrest him for a breach of the conditions of his suspended sentence when he was shot.

NT Police has since charged constable Zach­ary Rolfe, 28, with one count of murder.

He is currently on bail and suspended with pay.

Thousands of protesters carrying banners saying “Tell the truth” and “Justice for Walker” marched in Alice Springs, Darwin, Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne last week.

Protesters are questioning the way police and health officials dealt with the aftermath of the shooting. Mr Walker died in the police station from his injuries but did not receive critical emergency care. His family was not notified until hours after his death.

An online fundraiser to help ensure an independent inquiry into the shooting raised more than $80,000 in four days. Organisers say the money will pay for lawyers to travel to Yuendumu to “facilitate an independent inquiry into the shooting” and cover ­“associated forensic expertise”.