Violence in Australian town after arrest of man over girl’s murder

Violence erupted outside a hospital in Australia where a man, suspected of killing a five-year-old girl, was receiving treatment. Jefferson Lewis was taken into custody late Thursday night in Alice Springs after being spotted by local residents and reportedly attacked. Video footage shows large crowds gathering outside the hospital, with some individuals hurling objects, prompting police to use tear gas. The girl's body, known as Kumanjayi Little Baby for cultural reasons, was found earlier on Thursday. She was last seen on Saturday, when she was put to bed at an Aboriginal camp near Alice Springs just before midnight. According to Australia’s national broadcaster, the ABC, around 400 Aboriginal people outside the hospital shouted that Lewis deserved “payback” and accused police of shielding him. “Payback” refers to a traditional form of punishment in Central Australia. Many in the crowd chanted for his death due to his alleged crime against Kumanjayi Little Baby, the ABC reported. Footage from the area showed items being thrown at police, and several police vehicles were reportedly damaged. Northern Territory Police Commissioner Martin Dole told the ABC that Lewis was found unconscious. Dole mentioned that about 200 people attacked police and paramedics as they responded to reports of Lewis being assaulted. Multiple people, including emergency service workers, sustained injuries, but no arrests have been made related to the violence. Dole stated that the situation outside the hospital was “not acceptable” and did not reflect the behavior seen from the Alice Springs community in recent days. Lewis has been transported from Alice Springs to Darwin and is now in police custody, with charges anticipated against him in the upcoming days, according to Dole.