Two teenage boys have been charged over their alleged involvement in an underground fight club in Adelaide’s northern suburbs, while police continue investigating dozens of other youths featured in videos of the violent gatherings shared on social media.
The case has prompted calls for tougher laws after South Australian authorities condemned the unsanctioned fights involving children as young as 13.
Sequence of Events
Videos of the alleged fight club began appearing on social media in May and continued to be posted over the following months, showing teenagers participating in organised fights in public places.
The footage only came to widespread public attention this week after media reports highlighted the videos, sparking outrage from the South Australian government and police.
Following the reports, investigators launched an operation to identify those involved.
On Tuesday night, police located two boys from Adelaide’s northern suburbs, aged 14 and 17, and reported them for fighting in a public place. Both teenagers will be summonsed to appear in court at a later date.
Police also identified another four boys allegedly involved in the incidents and are attempting to locate them.
Speaking after the arrests, Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said investigators had identified evidence of approximately 36 additional youths, aged between 13 and 17, appearing in the online videos, although many have not yet been identified.
Commissioner Stevens said the footage appears to show offences including disorderly behaviour and fighting, while investigators are also examining whether organisers may have committed additional offences by arranging and promoting the events online.
Organiser Says Fights Will Continue
Despite the police investigation, the alleged organiser of the fight club told local media he intends to continue staging the clashes.
The 17-year-old, identified only as Owen, has been posting videos of the fights on social media since May and defended the gatherings despite widespread criticism from authorities.
Government Considering Tougher Laws
The controversy has prompted calls for stronger legislation to target those organising and promoting the events.
South Australian Police Minister Michael Brown said he has written to Meta and YouTube requesting the removal of the videos because they may depict criminal offences.
Brown also said he would ask Commissioner Stevens whether existing laws need to be strengthened if organisers cannot be prosecuted under South Australia’s “posting and boasting” legislation, which prohibits using social media to glorify or encourage criminal activity.
Police say investigations remain ongoing as detectives continue working to identify everyone involved in the alleged fight club.
