THE police station on Queensland's Palm Island has been burnt to the ground and other buildings damaged during a riot by up to 300 residents angry over a death in custody.Up to 50 armed police reinforcements were today being flown to the Aboriginal settlement after hundreds of angry residents stormed the police station and adjoining courthouse early this afternoon, setting fire to the buildings with a petrol bomb.
Residents "were believed" to have blocked the airstrip with cars to stop police reinforcements being flown from nearby Townsville.
Palm Island resident Nicky Bull said the situation was worse than during this year's Redfern riots in Sydney.
"There's smoke everywhere, the police station's just about burnt to the ground as it is, as well as the residence where the police live," she said.
The riot follows the release of a post-mortem examination of Cameron Doomadgee, 36, who died in custody last Friday.
The autopsy found the man had four broken ribs and died from a punctured lung.
Another resident, Nicky Willis, said, "The atmosphere over here at the moment is one that's full of anger because of what's come out of the coroner's report .
"It's one that's full of fear as well because there are a lot of good people that live on this land.
"There's a lot of elders that live here . . . and they are living in fear."
The Palm Island hospital has been locked down.
By Just Us 26 November 04
Related:
Whitewash over Hickey's death
The New South Wales coroner has cleared police of any responsibility for the death of Aboriginal teenager Thomas 'TJ' Hickey.
Redfern police need education not weapons
NSW police want new offensive equipment including long-range capsicum spray guns and modified armoured vehicles capable of spraying tear gas following a damning report on the Redfern riots in Sydney earlier this year.
Carr defends Redfern riot fallout
But such is the fact that police can do no wrong according to authorities that one wonders what benefit to the community this report would be other than to protect the police again.
The Young Man From Kamilaroi
On Monday, 5 July 2004, the Hickey Family and their supporters will come together in the Glebe Coroners Court with the Redfern Police, the same police, specifically unknown at this time, who pursued the Young Man to his death by impalement.
Police stalkers set to escape
The real issue was posted it read "Wanted child murderers"!
Payback over Redfern riot after death in custody
A 37 year-old woman will appear in court today charged over her alleged involvement in a riot in Redfern on Sunday night.
Riot in Redfern over death in custody
The reported claim that 50 police were injured during rioting in Redfern over a death in custody is nothing more than a counter claim required to balance the argument that Thomas Hickey wasn't chased to his death by police.
Redfern police 'need to be made accountable'
POLICE have no right to demand increased support to patrol Redfern in the wake of one of the worst death in custody cover-ups by police in Australian history.
"If I Could Turn Back Time" Daily Terror, CH/7
THE real cause of last month's violent Redfern riots was the death of teenager Thomas "TJ" Hickey but perhaps only one element of the racism, harassment and bullying by the New South Wales police force and in this case Redfern police at the Block.
Was Thomas Hickey payback?
Yesterday it was alleged police faced a potentially deadly confrontation with locals of a redfern housing block last week when a gun was grabbed from an officer's holster and held to his stomach.
TJ HICKEY MEMORIAL MARCH AND VIGIL
Gather at the Block at 9am March to Phillip Street Redfern, "Turanga Block" vigial at site of "TJ's" death. March to Redfern Police Station to leave list of demands regarding the enquiries into his death.
