UPDATED: The NT Police suppressed an alleged violent home invasion and carjacking incident in Tennant Creek on Saturday afternoon from the public, in which a woman returning from a shopping trip was allegedly assaulted and her car stolen with the alleged offender still on the run.

Sources with knowledge of the incident told the NT Independent the incident took place on Haddock Street in Tennant Creek around 4pm Saturday.

The woman was allegedly punched and kicked about the face after pulling into her home after a trip to a local shop with the offender allegedly stealing her car after entering the home.

The alleged male offender has not been apprehended and remains on the loose, while the car was reportedly recovered later in the day.

NT Police did not issue a statement about the incident by Monday morning. No description of the attacker was available.

The NT Police media unit has come under fire in recent weeks amid allegations the NT Government seconded a government marketing manager to oversee all police communications to the public.

On Monday, just before noon, police issued a statement about the incident, stating it had taken place at “about 3:15pm” and involved a 74-year-old woman and four youths – three of which were still on the run.

“Police used tyre [deflation] devices to stop the vehicle, and four youths fled on foot,” the statement said. “One youth has since been arrested and investigations continue to locate the other three individuals involved in the aggravated robbery.

“The vehicle has been seized and will be forensically examined.”

It was unclear if the information provided would have been provided if the NT Independent had not reported the incident.

Police asked anyone with information about the alleged Tennant Creek aggravated robbery to contact them on 131 444, quoting reference number 10419484.

On Saturday, the media unit released a statement about an incident in Anula on Friday night, in which a 32-year-old man was allegedly assaulted around 12:30am “by a number of persons armed with weapons in the vicinity of Yanyula Drive and Lee Point Road”

Police said in that incident, one person “in the group is believed to have assaulted the man with a knife before the group fled the scene”.

The victim was reportedly taken to Royal Darwin Hospital.

“Detectives from Major Crime Squad are investigating the incident and urging anyone who witnessed the incident or who has information relating to the incident to make contact with police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Please quote reference number 10418840,” police said.