Police search for boy after suspected crocodile attack in Australia’s Northern Territory

Australian police are searching for a 12-year-old child who was allegedly attacked by a crocodile while swimming.

The alert was raised on Tuesday evening in Palumpa, a remote town in the Northern Territory, about a seven-hour drive from Darwin.

Police said the child was last seen swimming in a stream and “initial reports are that the child was attacked by a crocodile.”

A search operation involving officials and locals has been launched.

“Local officials are on site and our thoughts are with the family and the community,” said Sergeant Erica Gibson

“Officers are currently searching a large section of the creek using boats and we thank the community for their continued support.”

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In the Northern Territory, an area more than six times the size of Great Britain, there are more than 100,000 crocodiles – some of them up to 6 m long.

However, fatal attacks on humans are relatively rare.