NT Police have refused to disclose details of a troubling incident involving two people being stabbed in a car park near the Casuarina Square Shopping Centre, before they were chased into a nearby bottleshop where the offender allegedly attempted to stab them again.

A source provided the information to the NT Independent about the stabbings, saying the pair were initially stabbed with a broken bottle in the car park at the back of Woolworths closer to the Casuarina All Sports Club, on Tuesday night, before the victims were chased across the car park into the club bottleshop, where the offender tried to stab them again.

NT Police media manager Rob Cross did not respond to questions about the stabbings, despite the matter being in the public interest. It’s unclear why the police would not be seeking witnesses and why they have chosen not to release information to the public about the incident.

St John Ambulance media manager Jeannette Button said that organisation did not comment on any incidents that could involve police investigations.

The Royal Darwin Hospital did not respond to questions about whether they treated the two stabbing victims or the extent of their injuries.

Casuarina All Sports Club would not comment on the incident.

Casuarina Shopping Centre owner, GTP Group, media manager Grant Taylor said the land the car park was on was not owned by GTP and police were aware of the incident.

The integrity of NT Police management was called into question earlier this week, after an internal email revealed officers in the Darwin division were told to mislead the public about staffing shortages. The email instructed police not to disclose to the public if they are the only van on duty.

“If you get to a job and the complainant/victim says, ‘that took a while to get here’ (or words to that effect), do not tell them that you are the only van on duty, just explain that it is a busy shift,” the official email stated.

“Do the task you are dispatched to and ensure the minimum response is achieved.”