Armed groups clash in Wadeye; police warn someone may die
Groups of up to 150 people armed with crossbows and machetes have clashed repeatedly, leaving one man critically injured.
Police and elders in Wadeye, the NT's second-largest Indigenous community, say someone will likely die if the violence stops. Groups of up to 150 people armed with crossbows, machetes and spears have fought over the past two weeks, attacking homes, police and seriously injuring one man.
The feuding stems from conflicts between some of Wadeye's 24 clans. Overcrowded housing on clan land fuels the tit-for-tat cycle.
Elders tried brokering peace but it lasted only days before 150 people clashed again. In 2022, fighting killed one person and damaged 125 houses.
Community leaders say more public housing on homelands would let warring families spread out and ease tension.
- Groups of up to 150 people
- Armed mob size
- 24 clans in Wadeye
- Clan divisions
- Nearly 500 kids staying home
- Schools closed de facto
Why it mattersOvercrowded housing fuels deadly cycles of revenge in a remote community, and only housing and policy changes can break them.
AustraliaWadeye's 2,500 residents, including 500 school-age children now staying home out of fear, face ongoing danger while the NT and federal governments consider the housing and homeland funding requests.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
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