Two NT Police officers have suffered injuries after an axe was allegedly thrown at a police vehicle in Daly River during chaotic scenes in the community involving a group driving stolen vehicles armed with weapons.

NT Police said in a statement on Monday that police responded to calls for assistance from the community on Sunday night when an axe was thrown at their vehicle, shattering a window and injuring both officers.

One of the officers was struck by the axe, causing cuts to his arm, while both officers suffered cuts from the broken glass, NT Police said.

Commander Kylie Anderson said in a statement that additional officers were deployed to the community to support local officers after the community unrest.

“Thankfully, both officers weren’t seriously injured,” she said.

“It is a shameful act to harm a police officer who is simply doing their job and responding to calls for assistance from the community. Any attack on our members is taken incredibly seriously. Whoever is responsible will be held to account.

“Officers are working with the wider community to identify the offenders so arrests can be made.”

Cmdr Anderson said the police were “continuing to monitor the situation” at Daly River, “with the safety of community members and police our highest priority”.

The union representing police called on the Fyles Government to convene a working group “to address sentencing options” for people who assault frontline workers.

President Paul McCue called it a “sickening attack” which could have resulted in the death of a police officer.

“The last time the government’s working group, set up to review sentencing options for cowardly offenders who attack police, met was back in September 2021,” he said.

“It appears Government set up the working group with no real intention of it achieving anything.

“It’s little wonder a majority of our members say they don’t feel supported by the NT Government, as evidenced in our current survey.

“Imagine if this was the treatment our politicians received at work every day? Kicked, spat on, scratched, weapons thrown at them, or punched to the head. Imagine if they had to go home to their families to explain their injuries each day, just for serving our community. Where is the outrage from Government on this issue?”

Mr McCue said recent data shows in the 122 days to November 17, 2022, there were 72 recorded assaults against officer and over the last five years, 1,054 officers in the NT had been assaulted.

“It is our expectation, and that of the community, that offenders who assault police face tough punishment,” he said.

“Our members are sick of being the Government’s punching bags.”