A relatively minor dispute between two women escalated into an enormous brawl for one family on a remote Northern Territory island in which two men were killed by spears.
It's not yet known was sparked the fight in Angurugu community on Groote Eylandt between the two related women on Thursday night, but one was knocked unconscious after a male relative intervened, Commander Tony Fuller told reporters in Darwin on Saturday morning.
He said that on Friday afternoon another male relative from the same family drove from Umbakumba township to Angurugu to find out what had happened, but when he arrived three men threw rocks at his car, causing him to crash into a fence.
The man went searching for them with weapons, and they returned to the residential street, also armed, and began to argue.
The four local police at the scene were "well and truly" overwhelmed by the gathering crowd of at least 50 to 60 people, Commander Fuller said.
They had spears and machetes, and it is believed axes and nulla nullas (hardwood clubs) were also used.
"Police attempted to disperse the crowd but were forced to retreat due to the overwhelming number of armed persons who had gathered on each end of the street, brandishing spears at each other," he said.
Two related men aged 19 and 29 were hit with spears and both died shortly afterwards in the local clinic, while another man was flown to Royal Darwin Hospital.
On Saturday morning, he was expected to receive surgery for a machete stab wound to his back, and was in a serious but stable condition.
The incident has been declared a major crime, and five detectives from Darwin's Major Crime Unit have been flown to the island, along with a tactical response group and dog squad.
Seven more officers from Katherine were en route on Saturday.
There was no further unrest overnight, Commander Fuller said, and no arrests have yet been made.
"Police would like to recognise the selfless actions of local health staff who tried desperately to save the lives of the two men under very stressful conditions," Commander Fuller said.
"There were also a number of community members who tried to quell the violence in the first instance, some of whom put themselves in between the two warring groups."
