Three teenagers have been charged following a serious incident in Darwin City in which a police officer was allegedly stabbed while officers were responding to reports of a disturbance. Northern Territory Police said the incident occurred on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, and involved a 14-year-old girl and two other teenagers aged 16 and 13.

Police said they first received reports shortly before 4:30pm that the 14-year-old girl had allegedly assaulted a security guard and damaged property inside a shopping centre on Smith Street. Police then used CCTV footage to track the group to nearby Cavenagh Street.

Officers located the 14-year-old girl with a 16-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl. Police allege that when officers approached, the 16-year-old boy pushed past them and ran away.

According to police, the 14-year-old girl then allegedly produced a kitchen knife and struck a police officer, causing injuries to the officer's upper arm and chest. Officers deployed a taser and arrested the girl at the scene.

The injured officer was taken to hospital with injuries that were described as non-life-threatening. Police later said the officer had initially been discharged but returned to hospital for surgery.

Police continued tracking the other two teenagers through Darwin's central business district. Officers eventually established a cordon around a unit complex at Tomaris Court, where the two teenagers were located and arrested without further incident.

The 14-year-old girl has been charged with several offences, including intending to cause serious harm, causing harm, possessing or using a controlled weapon, assaulting police, resisting police and hindering police. She was also charged over an alleged assault causing harm to a worker.

The 16-year-old boy has been charged with breaching bail, resisting police and hindering police. The 13-year-old girl has been charged with assaulting a worker causing harm, making threats, going armed in public and possessing, carrying or using a controlled weapon.

Police said Strike Force Trident is continuing to investigate the incident. Investigators are also examining reports that the teenagers may have been involved in other alleged incidents involving businesses in Darwin earlier that day.

The three teenagers are expected to appear in court on Wednesday afternoon. Because the accused people are minors, their matters will proceed through the youth justice system.

Police have asked anyone who witnessed the incident and has not yet spoken with investigators to contact Northern Territory Police.

The case remains before the courts, and the allegations against the teenagers have not been proven. The investigation is continuing as police gather further evidence and establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

The incident has also renewed attention on safety for police and security workers responding to disturbances in public areas. Northern Territory Police Commissioner Martin Dole said officers and other workers should be able to carry out their duties without facing violence, while confirming that the injured officer's injuries were not life-threatening.