A woman has been charged with attempted arson after allegedly setting fire to a police car during a riot outside Alice Springs Hospital on Thursday night. This incident occurred when a large crowd gathered in protest while a 47-year-old man, Jefferson Lewis, was being treated. Lewis is a suspect in the murder of five-year-old Kumanjayi Little Baby, whose body was found after a five-day search.
As anger mounted, demonstrators expressed their desire for Lewis to be handed over for traditional cultural justice. In response to the escalating violence, police deployed tear gas to disperse the crowds. To reduce tensions in the area, Lewis has since been relocated to Darwin.
During the unrest, it is alleged that the woman used a lighter and dried grass to ignite a fire under a police vehicle. Authorities reported that the fire was swiftly extinguished before it could spread, although it caused an estimated $20,000 worth of damage. Following these events, the woman was arrested and is facing charges of attempted arson and participating in a riot. She currently remains in custody and is anticipated to appear in court next week.
For those seeking support, 24/7 crisis assistance is available through services run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people via 13YARN (13 92 76).