Stories from Alice Springs · Australia

Indigenous leaders in Alice Springs are organizing a community vigil for Kumajai Little Baby on Thursday. The town is mourning her death as police prepare to lay charges against a man suspected of killing her. Floral tributes have been placed in her memory.

The family of a 2023 Nobel Peace Prize winner is calling for all charges related to her human rights work to be dropped. They are concerned that her transfer to a hospital may have occurred too late.

The community is engaged in 'Sorry Business,' a traditional Aboriginal term for healing and mourning, one week after a child went missing from the Aboriginal town camp Old Timers, south of Alice Springs. The child disappeared on Saturday night.

Clashes have broken out in Alice Springs, located in central Australia, between the Aboriginal community and security forces. The source reported that the area is experiencing violence and confrontations.

Northern Territory Police said 47-year-old Jefferson Lewis has been released from medical care and deemed fit for custody. Lewis was taken to Alice Springs Hospital for treatment after being assaulted by locals on Thursday night. Angry community members subsequently besieged the hospital, throwing objects at police and torching a police vehicle. Lewis has since been transferred to a Darwin facility. The specific location of the Darwin facility remains undisclosed due to safety concerns. Police allege Lewis is responsible for the abduction and murder of a Komongi baby whose body was discovered on Thursday morning. He is expected to make a court appearance next week. Lewis faces two additional undisclosed offenses, according to the source.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has led calls for calm in Alice Springs following a period of unrest. A police presence has been deployed to the town to help maintain a fragile peace arrangement. The source did not specify the exact cause of the initial unrest. The arrest triggered vigilante activity and street riots in the town. There are now multiple calls for inquiries into the incident.

Northern Territory Chief Minister Leah Finocchiaru announced the closure of bottle shops in Alice Springs today. The decision follows a crime spike and rioting in 2023. Take-away alcohol has been banned on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Police found the body of a girl, Kumanjai Little Baby, yesterday afternoon near the old-timers town camp. She and Mr. Lewis had disappeared on Saturday night.

Northern Territory Police have moved accused child killer Jefferson Lewis to Darwin for safety following overnight riots. Violence erupted outside a hospital in Alice Springs as rioters targeted frontline service workers. Protesters were observed throwing rocks and attempting to set a police vehicle on fire. Local residents and the community expressed emotion regarding the events of the past week. The scale of the unrest was described as, even in the presence of a Minister. Residents described the recent week of unrest as something never seen before in the town. Reza Adib, the partner of a former Queensland Premier, in connection to the incident. Senior Alia Wara and Michael Little addressed the situation, noting an understanding of the public's anger. The senator, described as a family member and vigilante in this instance, has been raising these issues throughout her political career.

Police used tear gas and rubber bullets to manage a crowd of angry people during an incident in Australia. Chaos reportedly occurred outside a hospital in Alice Springs where the suspect was being treated. The investigation into the death is ongoing. Approximately 400 people gathered outside Alice Springs Hospital yesterday in an attempt to reach him. Reports indicate he had sustained injuries prior to detention. Officers also reportedly sustained injuries during the detention process. Suspect Jefferson Lewis has been moved to Darwin due to high tensions surrounding his presence in Alice Springs. Authorities reported that police officers have been injured a number of times during the situation. The community expressed anger regarding the suspect's alleged actions. The transfer follows allegations of misconduct that have caused public anger.