Northern Territory Police are calling for witnesses to an incident in which a man physically assaulted a child in Alice Springs yesterday.

Around 2:40pm near the Bath Street taxi rank, a 21-year-old man allegedly threw a three-year-old child at the ground. The man was unknown to the child.  

The child suffered cuts and bruising at a result of the incident.

Family of the child followed the man who left the area on foot before he was arrested by police near the Alice Springs Town Council lawns soon after. Charges are yet to be laid.

The child was transported to the Alice Springs Hospital for observation.

Detectives from the Southern Criminal Investigation Branch are investigating the incident, and urge anyone who witnessed the assault to contact police on 131 444 or report it anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Please reference 10010853.