Violence broke out outside an Australian hospital where Jefferson Lewis, the man suspected of murdering a five-year-old girl, was being treated. Lewis was arrested late Thursday night local time in Alice Springs after being seen by local community members and reportedly attacked.

Video footage shows dozens of people gathering outside the town's hospital, throwing projectiles, with police using tear gas. The crowd of about 400 Aboriginal people reportedly yelled that Lewis needed to face 'payback'—a term for traditional punishment under Aboriginal law in Central Australia—and accused police of protecting him.

The body of the girl, identified only as Kumanjayi Little Baby for cultural reasons, was discovered earlier on Thursday. She was last seen on Saturday when she was put to bed at an Aboriginal town camp near Alice Springs just before midnight.

Northern Territory Police Commissioner Martin Dole told the ABC that Lewis was unconscious when officers found him. About 200 people turned on police and paramedics, injuring several. Dole described the scenes as 'not acceptable' and 'not reflective of what we've seen from the community of Alice Springs in the last five days'.

Lewis has been flown from Alice Springs to Darwin and taken into police custody. Charges are expected in the coming days. Forensic tests to confirm the girl's identity and cause of death will continue on Friday.

The girl's mother, unnamed, said her daughter was loved and missed, and thanked the dozens of police and volunteers who searched for days. Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro noted that around 200 people worked tirelessly, and 'everyone is incredibly devastated'.

Source: www.bbc.com