Riot in Far North Queensland

An emergency has been declared after a more than 300 people staged an overnight riot in a far north Queensland community, police say.

Police declared an emergency zone within a two kilometre radius of the town of Aurukun.

Although police are not certain what sparked the violence they suspect it was caused by the arrest of a 22-year-old man for assault earlier that day.

The crowd smashed up two police cars and the glass doors and windows of the police station as rioters tried to gain entry.

They also ransacked a local shop and seriously damaged a tavern.