Police probe alleged skinhead attack

National Nine News/December 8, 2004

Police are investigating accusations of another race-related incident in Queensland, in which three Aboriginal teenagers were allegedly beaten with fence palings last Friday.

Aboriginal leader Bert Button said members of Toowoomba's indigenous community, west of Brisbane, were threatening to riot over the incident at an end-of-school break-up party.

Mr. Button said a 75-year-old grandmother, who was supervising the party, was pushed backwards after trying to fend off one of four "skinheads" who burst into a house at Rockville at 11.30pm (AEST) following a street brawl.

He said three Aboriginal youths were bashed after the group stormed into the living room of the house armed with a fence paling ripped from the ground outside the house on Welcombe Avenue.

The alleged attack follows a spate of race-related violence in the state in the wake of a death in custody last month on Palm Island in north Queensland.

The death of Cameron Doomadgee sparked a riot by 300 islanders and a nationwide race debate.

Last week, two men were arrested for assault after allegedly dragging an Aboriginal youth with a noose around his neck following an alleged property break-in near the border town of Goondiwindi.

In the latest incident in Toowoomba, the skinhead group is alleged to have yelled racial slurs as they smashed photos in the house.

Mr. Button said one of the attackers was identified but police were yet to lay charges.

He said indigenous families were threatening to take up arms against the youth.

"We just want justice to be done with a bit of equity," he said.

Police denied the incident was racially motivated.

A police spokeswoman said police believed it was a "neighbourhood dispute" but investigations were continuing.

She said there were no serious injuries reported to police but "all of the complaints continue to be investigated by the Toowoomba CIB and charges may be forthcoming as a result of the investigation."