Police have arrested another three people on Groote Eylandt following a violent riot which saw two men killed by spears on Friday.
It brings the total number of arrests to 10, as increased numbers of Northern Territory police question residents of the island communities of Umbakumba and Angurugu over the deaths of the men, who were aged 19 and 29.
All the arrests have so far been in relation to the 19-year-old’s death, who was killed during the disturbance involving spears and machetes used by feuding family members. Nine people are currently in custody after one man was released pending further investigation.
More than 30 statements have been taken from witnesses and participants, and charges are expected to be laid later on Tuesday.
“We know who the main suspects are and it is only a matter of time before we catch up with them,” said Commander Tony Fuller in a statement.
“We again urge them to come forward so that we can avoid putting the community through any more trauma than it has already experienced.”
The incident is believed to have started with an altercation between two women last Thursday. A male relative intervened and one woman was knocked unconscious, police said on Saturday.
The following day another male relative drove in to find out what had happened, but his car was pelted with rocks, causing him to crash. The situation escalated until “at least 50 to 60” armed people gathered at two ends of a residential street. Police were forced to retreat as numerous spears were thrown. Two men were killed and at least one seriously injured.
Officers from the tactical response group and dog squad, five major crimes detectives from Darwin and seven officers from Katherine were sent to the island in the Gulf of Carpentaria, and expect to maintain a presence for some time.
Police have also seized or received more than 160 weapons including spears and woomeras (“a plank-like device used to propel the spears”), knives and swords.
“Our patrols are focused on providing reassurance to the residents and to demonstrate that the carriage of weapons without lawful purpose will not be tolerated,” said Divisional Superintendent Stephen Heyworth.
“Both the Umbakumba and Angurugu communities have been helpful to our officers and we would like to acknowledge the cooperation and leadership shown by the elders and traditional owners.”
Police have obtained footage of the disturbance which captures images of those involved in the deaths.
“The footage shows a male struck by a spear thrown by a member of one of the opposing groups,” said Fuller on Sunday.
“Police believe the male who threw that spear is the second male who was killed.”
The use of spears and other weapons in mass altercations has occurred previously on Groote Eylandt. Several YouTube clips purport to show spear fights on the island. In May, 12 people were arrested in Angurugu after a disturbance. In 2010 weapons were reportedly seized after a brawl involving up to 70 people.
