UPDATED: NT Police have now arrested the 14-year-old male suspect who they allege was involved in a violent machete attack at the Yeperenye Shopping Centre in Alice Springs on Monday, that nearly resulted in an elderly man being struck with the machete, which follows the arrest and charging of a 17-year-old male earlier on Tuesday.
The incident occurred around 12:10pm Monday in the food court at the shopping centre, with the teen being chased off by an off-duty police officer, a video of the incident shows.
Witnesses told The Australian the incident was a “family dispute” that started with chairs being thrown around before the teen pulled out the machete.
Police issued a statement on Tuesday shortly after noon to say they had arrested a 17-year-old in connection to the incident, but were still searching for the 14-year-old, who is alleged to have been the person armed with the machete.
Around 2:30pm, police said they had arrested the 14-year-old.
The teen was arrested in Alice Springs, police said, and is expected to be charged with recklessly endangering life, going armed in public, breaching a good behaviour order and damage to property.
The 17-year-old is expected to face one count of recklessly endangering life, but police reiterated he is not believed to be the person armed with the machete at the shopping centre.
Police did not say how they located the 14-year-old or where in Alice Springs he was hiding, while making no mention of him wearing an electronic monitoring ankle bracelet at the time of the shopping centre attack.
Police said the incident at the mall was preceded by a “previous disturbance”.
Witnesses reported seeing the elderly man with blood on him but police said that no injuries were reported. Police made no mention of the victim in either Tuesday statement.
Police Commissioner Martin Dole told The Australian the incident was “a violent and deliberate attack carried out in a public space, in front of families and children going about their day”.
“This type of behaviour is completely unacceptable,” Mr Dole said.
“Our community deserves to feel safe in its shopping centres, on its streets, and in every corner of Alice Springs. Those responsible for such violence are not only breaking the law, they’re breaking the trust of the community, and that will not be tolerated.
“Let me be clear — those who think they can behave like this in our towns will be held to account. This is exactly the sort of violent conduct that ends with people behind bars, and that’s where these offenders belong.”
Police are asking anyone with information, including footage of the incident to contact them on 131 444, quoting reference number P25303198. Anonymous reports can also be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or on the Crime Stoppers website.
The Northern Territory crime rate does not appear to be in decline. Not just Victoria has a machete problem, so does the Northern Territory.