Australia: Riot outside hospital treating man accused of killing girl, 5

A crowd has rioted outside a hospital in Australia where a man accused of killing a five-year-old was being treated.

Kumanjayi Little Baby, named in line with indigenous cultural practices that avoid naming the deceased, was found dead south of Old Timers Camp in central Australia on Thursday.

Jefferson Lewis is alleged to have abducted the girl from an indigenous community near Alice Springs last weekend.

He was beaten unconscious by a mob before being arrested in connection with her death later Thursday, police said.

Images from the Alice Springs Hospital on Thursday night show police dragging protesters away as crowds gathered outside the hospital, shouting and confronting officers.

Some protesters threw objects toward police, while smoke rose near the scene, and police vehicles were surrounded and damaged.

Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowd.

According to the Associated Press, hundreds of people demanded Lewis face what they consider justice under customary law, which can involve spearing or beating.

The hospital later discharged Lewis to the police, who flew him to Darwin, about 900 miles to the north, for his own safety.

He is expected to be charged in the coming days.

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Calling for calm, James Gray-Spence of Northern Territory Police said the riot was "disgraceful behaviour... however, it was only a minority that engaged in that behaviour".

"The standard we stand by is the cooperation and collaboration we have seen from the Alice Springs community," he added.

Michael Liddle of the Alice Springs Town Council also said: "All week, the community of Alice Springs came together... searching for a little baby that was taken by a monster.

"That hard work was undone last night by some people who were very angry with the system."

(c) Sky News 2026: Australia: Riot outside hospital treating man accused of killing girl, 5