CANBERRA, June 17 (Xinhua) -- An internal investigation was launched after video footage showing an Australian police officer striking an aboriginal man was posted on social media.
The incident happened in Adelaide, capital city of South Australia, where video clips shared online showed that a man, later reported as 28-year-old Noel Henry, was restrained by two police officers on the ground, while a third one punched him repeatedly.
According to a report of the Nine News on Wednesday, witnesses claim police officers "using excessive and unnecessary force to arrest" the man.
In a statement by the South Australia Police on the official website on Tuesday, police said that they were tasked to handle a domestic violence matter at about 8:15 p.m. (local time) on Monday, when they found a man on a bike and suspected him possessing illicit drugs.
"Police attempted to arrest the man who resisted and a struggle ensued," said the statement. "Police and the man went to the ground as police attempted to restrain and handcuff him."
It said that police were then "confronted by a number of other nearby residents who became agitated," and "defensive spray was deployed and other police arrived."
In a report by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, aboriginal rights activist and social worker Latoya Rule said she was concerned for Henry's welfare "after all the Black Lives Matter and Aboriginal deaths in custody issues that we see."
Many people took to Twitter to show their anger after watching the video.
"Meanwhile, in Australia, our ... police in South Australia show they can be just as evil as US police," said Richard West.
"Is there any state in this 'lucky country' where blacks are safe, anywhere? This is now beyond belief," tweeted RaffAgostino.
Recently the Black Lives Matter protests in Australia brought the welfare of aboriginal people to the spotlight.
A study by the Australian National University earlier this month showed that around 75 percent of Australians hold an implicit bias against indigenous people, which might lead to racism. Enditem
