Multiple arrests after police officers attacked north-west of Brisbane
Children as young as seven were reportedly involved in a “disturbance” in the towns of Cherbourg and Murgon, north-west of Brisbane, on Friday night, where three police officers were injured.
Inspector Mike Curtin from Dalby Police said two vehicles were stolen from Murgon on Thursday night and one was located in Wondai during an attempted break-and-enter at a local hotel.
“As a result of that, police commenced a pursuit of this vehicle and “stingers”, or tyre deployment device was used in Murgon to intercept the vehicle,” he said.
“This was successful but the vehicle kept driving and eventually made its way to the township of Cherbourg.”
Three police vehicles pursued the car driving on its rims into Cherbourg in the early hours of the night, where the police cars were set on by a group of about 100 people, Inspector Curtin said.
One police car’s windscreen was smashed by rocks and other objects thrown at the car.
Two officers were injured from the shattering windscreens, and a rock thrown at the head of a third female police officer.
Footage of the incidents circulated on social media over the weekend.
“This incident is extremely disturbing … the fact that our police are out there doing their job and simply protecting the community and persons in the community of Cherbourg and they are set upon and treated in this manner.”
Inspector Curtin said 10 alleged offenders had been arrested over the past 48 hours and said further arrests were expected.
Most of the group were teenagers, he said, with suggestions that children as young as seven were involved.
“It’s very disturbing and it’s actually disgusting that local persons, predominantly youths, will set upon police who are just doing their job,” he said.
“I call on the Cherbourg community to take a stand against this kind of behaviour.”
Video shared on social media of the Friday night incident showed youths running alongside a police car as it drove slowly through the streets and striking at the car.
Another video also showed a red ute with damaged tyres being pursued by two police cars.
Inspector Curtin said the incident was a “poor reflection” on a community with “so many wonderful people”.