3M estate's defiant signal to outsiders - keep out The Daily Telegraph
By Tim Vollmer and Kara Lawrence January 09, 2009 ..
IF you don't live here, get out: Defiant residents of the 3M estate delivered this message yesterday along with abuse, bottles - and anything that could be hurled.
With police again in force in beleaguered Rosemeadow, making more arrests over Monday night's brawl, residents of Macbeth Way stood their ground, their defiance flying in the face of a police meeting with community leaders in a bid to quell the unrest besieging the southwestern suburb.
The message of defiance came amid further confrontations with members of the media outside Campbelltown Children's Court, where a 16-year-old boy charged in relation to the violence appeared, along with a 14-year-old, a 26-year-old and a 23-year-old.
Melee at court as brawl boy remanded
Police urged elders to rein in their youth and take back ownership of the streets and discussed how to combat truancy, poor housing and a lack of facilities.
Gallery: Inside a Sydney suburb under siege .. video inside
But the youth remained indignant, targeting police and media and taunting officers as they arrested several men over the brawl.
While the weather was cooler, tempers still simmered last night. Police patrols of eight riot squad officers on foot were met with a barrage of abuse from some residents.
"We don't need the riot squad coming down here," Michelle said. "They need to back off because it is instigating the problem.
"We are all just struggling families just trying to survive."
Another resident launched a volley of abuse: "You just need to f . . . off and we'll sort out this mess ourselves".
Superintendent Stuart Smith said his officers were "not the aggressors".
Fr Chris Riley: Priest of peace ready to fight
"The community needs to take ownership now," Supt Smith said.
He said community leaders had to take a role in settling tensions while police continued arresting those responsible for the brawl.
Aboriginal elder Uncle Ivan and Pacific Islander elder John Whiu last night told The Daily Telegraph they would outline their solutions to the worsening situation today.
Riot squad marches on 3M estate
As night fell, one Macbeth Way resident warned The Daily Telegraph to leave the street: "We're going inside now and we're going to lock the door. I wouldn't go hanging around if I was you." As a photographer entered the street, one man yelled: "F . . . off or I will throw a brick at your head."
Tensions in the public housing area were heightened by five arrests yesterday morning, including three young males.
Gun threat in Rosemeadow brawl
It followed a night in which three men were arrested, two police cars were damaged and trolleys full of rubbish were set alight in Macbeth Way and surrounding streets.
Police were lured to the estate early yesterday by a hoax triple-0 call about a stabbing to find a 70-strong mob, including a man wielding a knife and baseball bat.
Riot squad and local police returned to Macbeth Way about 10am, arresting two youths aged 15 and 16 and a 20-year-old man and charging them with affray.
Two brothers, aged 24 and 26, from Julius Rd, were arrested in nearby suburbs and charged with malicious wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and affray.
Police are still seeking to question their father and another two brothers, who were shot during the brawl.
As of late yesterday, the arrest toll over the brawl stood at 13, including many alleged core members of Monday night's mob and a man charged for spitting at the media.
A 19-year-old man was released without charge pending further inquiries.
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