14 June: A violent mob in Alice Springs has attacked police officers, threatening them with a box cutter, smashing police car windows and freeing people from a police wagon.

Northern Territory Police went to the Hidden Valley Town Camp about 8.30pm (CST) on Wednesday to respond to a report of a fire.

They took a 44-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman, who were allegedly both very drunk, into protective custody. While looking for a person in connection to the fire police also tried to take two other drunk men, aged 54 and 25, into protective custody.

A scuffle broke out when this occurred and other people nearby began to shout at police and allegedly armed themselves with rocks, forcing officers to release the 44-year-old from their control.

That man then opened a caged police vehicle, and released the people who were in it.

“These persons joined in the melee and allegedly began attacking the police vehicles with logs and rocks, smashing windows and light bars,” Detective Senior Sergeant Travis Wurst said.

Two police vehicles suffered smashed windows and other superficial damage.

Tasers were used against the group but proved ineffective.

Police used batons against the 54-year-old man, who had allegedly armed himself with a box cutter.

That man received leg injuries which would require surgery, Mr Wurst said.

Three men aged 25, 44, 54 and a 30-year-old woman have been charged with criminal damage and assaulting police.

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