Snapchat correspondence from a third youth not arrested at Rosebery Middle School during a lockdown, can be revealed as one of the sources triggering a wider social media panic last month.
Posts to Palmerston community Facebook pages of a youth with a "machete" at Rosebery Middle School were picked up by this publication, when a source reached out directly with their concerns.
Other local media proceeded to share the unverified information as well, but only specified which school it was behind a paywall, leaving anyone with a student in the Palmerston area on tenterhooks.
The Mango Inquirer shared the page on social media where the reports were coming from for readers to determine the quality of the information for themselves.
Over a week later last Sunday, The Mango Inquirer found it disappointing to read an attempt to disavow any participation or responsibility in the whole situation, with local media labelling the social media claims as "malicious", despite jumping on board to spread the information themselves.
If we're reading the situation correctly, it's being suggested that anyone sharing information on social media in the interest of community safety will be perceived as having "malicious" intentions.
In the Snapchat messages viewed by this publication, it can be revealed that a third youth corresponded with others to confirm they were all carrying "knives".
Whether an empty boast or not, we can confirm the name on the Snapchat account as belonging to someone allegedly present during the incident, although not apprehended on the morning.
This publication will not be publishing a blurred version of the correspondence. To do so, would put students at risk of reprisals.
NT Police or Territory Families can contact us directly if they feel that Mango passing on such correspondence would benefit their investigation, as no one wants knives, machetes or sharp objects being carried around; or the boasting of such behaviour left unaddressed.
If any parents feel our publication contributed to unnecessarily to their angst and anxiety over what was happening, we sincerely apologise, although no such concerns have not been raised with us yet.
We will say however, that referring to 'official channels' as suggested by a police spokesperson in the news piece, for 'accurate reliable information' is a bit of self-defeating statement.
A healthy distrust of authority should never be discounted.
We are The Mango Inquirer.
