Suspected ringleader among eight facing court over SA fight club trend

A teenager believed to be the ringleader of a shocking youth ‘fight club’ will appear in court after being arrested by police.

South Australia Police have confirmed the arrest of a 17-year-old boy at his Davoren Park home earlier this week as they continue to investigate a controversial series of events.

Earlier this month, various videos of young people fighting under the guise of the South Australian Fight Club began appearing online.

The footage, shot at an undisclosed location in the Elizabeth area in Adelaide’s northern suburbs, appears to show 13-year-olds involved in unauthorized clashes.

The trend sparked widespread public outrage, criticism from the state’s premier and a major police investigation.

Now SA Pol has confirmed a major breakthrough in the investigation into a teenager charged with seven counts of aiding and abetting a fight in a public place and seven counts of publishing material depicting crimes.

The teenager was released on bail and will appear at the Elizabeth Youth Court on September 4.

SA Pol confirmed the suspected ringleader was one of eight people to appear in court over the incidents and the youngest suspect was a girl aged just 13.

Investigations resulted in the following youth being reported fighting in public:

• A 14-year-old boy from Elizabeth South

• A 14-year-old boy from Hillier

• A 17-year-old boy from Elizabeth.

• A 13-year-old girl from Elizabeth Downs.

• A 15-year-old girl from Paralowie

• A 17-year-old boy from Salisbury

• A 14-year-old boy from Riverle

All seven defendants will be subpoenaed at a later date.

Police had previously said they were trying to identify more than 36 people suspected of being involved in the controversial club.

And the state’s premier, Peter Malinauskas, slammed the practice, saying he was “absolutely appalled”.

“This is completely unsafe and perpetuates raw violence, especially among children, in a way that cannot be tolerated,” Malinauskas said.