Australian police find remains after suspected crocodile attack

“Initial reports indicate the child was attacked by a crocodile,” Northern Territory Police said in a statement.

After searching the creek, police said they found remains “believed to be those of a missing 12-year-old child.”

“This is devastating news for the family, the community and everyone involved in the search,” said Sergeant Erica Gibson.

Crocodile attacks are rare but not unknown in Australia’s sparsely populated Northern Territory.

A 4.5-metre-long crocodile was shot dead in 2013 after chasing locals near Palumpa.

In 2017, a 54-year-old man was injured in a non-fatal attack in the same area.

Earlier this year, an estuarine crocodile was shot, cooked and eaten after threatening another community in the Northern Territory.