Arabic version: الشرطة تحقق في وفاة مشبوهة في ألبورورولام

According to ABC News, Northern Territory Police are investigating the suspicious death of a woman in the remote community of Alpurrurulam, also known as Lake Nash, after an alleged physical assault in the early hours of Monday.

Police said they received a report from the local clinic at about 5:30am that a woman had died after she was allegedly assaulted. A male is in custody and is assisting police with inquiries, Superintendent Mark Bland confirmed. The victim’s and alleged offender’s ages have not been released, and police have not provided further details.

Local police, assisted by officers from Avon Downs, are responding to the incident. Detectives from Crime Command and forensic officers are travelling to Alpurrurulam, which is about 1,500 kilometres from Darwin and less than 20 kilometres from the Queensland border. The community is about 360 kilometres from Mount Isa.

Alpurrurulam has had no permanent police station since 2018. The closest officers are stationed 170 kilometres away at Avon Downs. The community has recently faced internal unrest that led to the evacuation of clinic staff, while the level of clinic staffing at the time of the assault and death remains unclear.

Local NT MP Chansey Paech said he was deeply saddened by the reported loss of life and said the community had been calling for more help, resources and support. He urged action on additional police resourcing and efforts to combat illegal alcohol supply. NT Health and the NT government have been contacted for comment.