Boy seriously injured in country street altercation

Police say a nine-year-old boy was struck in the head as a group of people allegedly fought nearby while he sat in a car.

A nine-year-old boy has been flown to hospital after being struck in the head with a brick allegedly thrown during a nearby street brawl.

The incident happened at about 1.30pm on Sunday along David Brand Dr in the Western Australian tourist town of Carnarvon, about 900km north of Perth.

WA Police said officers were called to break up a large brawl.

During the melee, the boy, sitting in a car at the time, was hit in the head with what’s believed to have been a brick, police said.

He was taken to Carnarvon Hospital with serious head injuries, before being flown to Perth Children’s Hospital.

The nine-year-old boy was sitting in a car when he was struck in the head, causing serious injuries. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brendan Beckett

Four people were arrested in Carnarvon over the incident, including two 16-year-old boys.

One was charged with taking part in a riot, endanger life, health or safety of a person, and assault occasioning bodily harm, to appear in Karratha Children’s Court.

The other teenager will face a charge in Carnarvon Children’s Court of taking part in a riot.

A 21-year-old man was also charged with taking part in a riot and give false personal details to police, while a 24-year-old man was charged with taking part in a riot and endanger life, health or safety of a person.

They’ll both face Carnarvon Magistrates Court on separate dates.

It is unclear if any of the charges relate directly to the nine-year-old being injured.

It’s understood Carnarvon was under a liquor ban at the time of the brawl.

Carnarvon has been the subject of debate over the usefulness of alcohol restrictions to curb anti-social behaviour.

Locals demanded government intervention following a spate of crime, similar to that seen in Alice Springs earlier in the year.

Originally published as Boy seriously injured in country street altercation