Jefferson Lewis, a 47-year-old man, has been arrested in Alice Springs after police identified him as the suspect in the abduction and killing of five-year-old Indigenous girl Kumanjayi Little Baby. The situation escalated after Lewis presented himself to one of the town's camps.
Upon his appearance in the local community, Lewis was attacked by a crowd and beaten unconscious before police intervened. He was then transported to a local hospital for treatment following the vigilante beating.
An angry crowd of roughly 400 Indigenous people subsequently gathered outside the hospital, leading to clashes with Australian emergency services workers and police. In an effort to disperse the rioters demanding justice, police fired rubber bullets and tear gas.
Following the overnight unrest in the remote town, Australian authorities have appealed for calm.