Police, Territory Response Group officers and riot police quell ‘major disturbance’ as flames, thick smoke pour from burning Don Dale Youth Detention Centre
‘ARMED’ detainees seized control of the Don Dale Youth Detention Centre overnight as vision showed flames and smoke pouring from the complex. Riot police were forced to use tear gas to quell the ‘major’ disturbance – VIDEO HERE
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POLICE have quelled a riot at Darwin’s notorious Don Dale Youth Detention Centre after inmates set fire to parts of the facility overnight and flames and thick smoke were seen coming from the complex.
At least 15 police vehicles, including tactical response vehicles and the armoured BearCat, as well as heavily armed riot police, and a large number of firefighters and ambulance officers, rushed to the centre about 6.45pm on Tuesday amid reports of a ‘major’ disturbance.
About three hours later flames and large plumes of thick smoke could be seen billowing from the facility.
Police said tear gas was used on the detainees who had escaped from their cells and allegedly used angle grinders to cut fences in an attempt to escape.
A Territory Families spokeswoman said police were sent out to a “disturbance” at the youth detention centre on Tuesday evening.
“A disturbance started at the Don Dale Youth Detention Centre at 6.45pm,” she said.
Up to 10 fire service vehicles and several ambulances were also called to the scene and the BearCat heavy duty police ram vehicle arrived about 9.30pm, almost three hours after authorities were notified of the disturbance.
Sky News reported that a note passed from inside the centre claimed that the detainees were armed with knives and jerrycans of fuel which they reportedly used to set multiple fires.
Police said the only injury had been to a staff member.
An ambulance was seen leaving the facility with its lights and sirens on about 11pm.
Throughout the stand-off an announcement being broadcast across the facility warned detainees: “This is the police. Drop your weapons. Your actions are being monitored. There will be consequences.”
It is believed that many of the freed detainees surrendered when police arrived, but by midnight about 12 remained at large.
Police entered the facility about 1am and all detainees were located by 2.15am, the ABC reported.
BREAKING: A building at the Don Dale Youth Detention Centre has gone up in flames during a disturbance that has been ongoing since 645pm @9NewsAUS #9News pic.twitter.com/s6OfGXRR6Q
— Rosanna Kingsun (@rosannakingsun) November 6, 2018
The remaining detainees were spotted being taken from the centre in police vehicles after police handed the facility back to the government department overseeing the centre.
It’s believed the disturbance began after an inmate took keys from a staff member and began opening cell doors.
Some inmates were able to access power tools and began cutting through a fence, the ABC reported.
At least one of the centre’s buildings, a demountable building which serves as the facility’s school, is thought to have been destroyed by fire.
Screaming and shouting could also be heard from detainees inside the complex during the disturbance.
Youths were seen running throughout the detention centre and across the roof during the stand-off.
At one stage a distressed mother of one of the detainees, who arrived during the siege, was put into the back of a police van after yelling profanities at police.
#BREAKING: Thick smoke has been seen coming from Darwin’s Don Dale Youth Detention Centre after police in camouflage entered the building.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) November 6, 2018
MORE: https://t.co/eobXgkUBbv pic.twitter.com/J59nqpDYrO
The disturbance comes less than a month after a dozen youths aged between 14 and 17 damaged infrastructure and accessed keys to the facility on October 20.
Don Dale has continued to be the subject of negative publicity this year, with four boys accused of starting fires at the centre in July and injuries to prison guards in May.
There was further controversy last week when the NT Government denied claims revealed in the NT News that young girls at Don Dale were under surveillance while they showered.
Former NT Corrections Minister John Elferink: If you expect an institution like Don Dale to fix these kids, you are kidding yourself.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) November 6, 2018
MORE: https://t.co/uyYeHZfcjG #SkyLiveNow pic.twitter.com/Ux5alHtuhu
.@mattcunningham: Police in riot gear have entered the Don Dale detention centre. There is a huge police presence. We've heard loud yelling coming out of the centre and police will only say they are responding to an incident.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) November 6, 2018
MORE TO COME: https://t.co/ykweMevBOK #PMlive pic.twitter.com/nIZztMvjK0
The NT government has committed $70 million for two new detention centres in Darwin and Alice Springs as part of $229.6 million over the next five years to overhaul the child protection and youth justice systems and implement the recommendations of the royal commission.
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