A man suspected of abducting and killing a five-year-old girl in Australia was airlifted out of a remote town for his own safety after violent unrest broke out among residents demanding justice.
Jefferson Lewis, 47, was moved from Alice Springs following clashes between police and hundreds of locals angered by the death of the Indigenous child, known to her family as Kumanjayi Little Baby.
The girl disappeared from a community camp on Saturday night, prompting a large-scale search involving both ground teams and aerial support. Her body was later discovered about three miles from the camp.
Police identified Lewis as the prime suspect and urged him to surrender. Authorities said he later handed himself over to members of the local community, where he was reportedly assaulted before police intervened.
Northern Territory Police Force Commissioner Martin Dole said Lewis was attacked by community members in what he described as vigilante action after presenting himself at a town camp. Emergency services and officers who responded to the scene also came under attack, with a crowd of about 400 people gathering outside the hospital where Lewis was taken.
Witness footage showed calls for “payback” from members of the Indigenous community, referring to traditional forms of punishment. Police used tear gas to disperse the crowd after projectiles were thrown and fires were lit, resulting in injuries to officers and damage to vehicles, ambulances and fire trucks. Authorities later relocated Lewis to Darwin, where he remains in custody and is expected to face charges.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged the community’s anger but urged calm, while Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the incident represented a devastating loss for the community and called for unity.
Community leaders also appealed for restraint, urging respect for cultural grieving practices as the family mourns the child’s death.
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