Two 13-year-old Aboriginal boys were allegedly beaten unconscious with baseball bats by members of a vigilante group in the Northern Territory.
According to a media release from Alice Springs activist group Shut Youth Prisons, the attack occurred last week outside a bank in the town centre.
‘They (the 13-year-olds) were walking home when a ute pulled up and at least four men jumped out and chased them,’ the statement reads.
The Nightwalkers group claim they’re ‘protecting our citizens’ and ‘defending our streets’
‘The two boys were caught. One was beaten unconscious, with injuries to his head. The other young boy tried to shield his cousin from the blows and was kicked and beaten as he lay on top of him.
‘Both children were later taken to hospital.’
The activist group said the men used baseball bats in the attack and the same ute had been known to follow groups of young people in the area.
A number of vigilante groups have emerged online. The Nightwalkers group claims to ‘protect our citizens and defend our streets’ from anti-social behaviour.
On an online Facebook community group, the Alice Springs Community Open Forum, some individuals also appear to be encouraging the idea of taking matters into their own hands. One user says encourages encourage ‘shooting n******’.
‘N****** time for a 12 gauge street sweeper,’ one post reads.
On one group, the Alice Springs Community Open Forum, users encourage ‘shooting n******’
‘Run the c***s over,’ reads another.
Bob Palmer, grandfather of both the young boys attacked, has called for the vigilante groups to stop.
‘We are concerned that it is a vigilante attack. Who gives them the right to bash our kids? We have to put a stop to this. We don’t want to wait until one of our kids dies,’ he said.
A NT Police spokesperson confirmed two males aged 21 and 27 were arrested and charged after an investigation into the incident last week. It is not known whether the men were members of the Nightwalkers, or any other vigilante group.
‘Northern Territory Police do not support or condone any vigilante activity or anyone taking the law into their own hands,’ the spokesperson said.