21 prisoners escape cells in mass breakout at Darwin Correctional Centre, 4-hour standoff

MORE than 20 prisoners at Darwin Correctional Centre escaped their cells overnight and climbed on to the roofs of multiple prison buildings, sparking a stand-off for several hours with authorities

More than 20 prisoners at Darwin Correctional Centre escaped their cells overnight and climbed on to the roofs of multiple prison buildings. Picture: Che Chorley

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Chief Judge Elizabeth Morris said in court this morning the prison was still in “complete lockdown” making it “very difficult if not impossible to move anybody” into the video link room.

“They still have police doing investigations and forensic teams there,” she said.

Court matters this morning have either been adjourned or had to proceed without prisoners appearing in court via video link.

The headache in court comes after more than 20 prisoners at Darwin Correctional Centre escaped their cells overnight and climbed on to the roofs of multiple prison buildings, sparking a stand-off for several hours with authorities.

The NT News understands that two prisoners may have been injured in the incident.

Late last night the Department of Corrections said it had “contained the incident” which saw 21 prisoners climb on to the roofs of multiple prison buildings.

In a statement, a spokeswoman from the Department of the Attorney-General said all prisoners and correctional staff were now safe.

“21 prisoners were on the roof of multiple areas of prisoner accommodation areas,” she said.

“Fire officers have entered the correctional centre to check on fire damage.

“Police will identify potential crime scenes.

“Off duty correctional officers who were available were asked to return to the correctional centre to support the operation.”

EARLIER UPDATE:

AN ambulance has just arrived at the Darwin prison, where prisoners broke out of their cells

Four police wagons have left the prison but it is unknown whether people were in the cages.

Emergency service vehicles arrive at the Darwin Correctional Centre after prisoners broke out of their cells. Picture: Che Chorley

Several fire trucks have also left the jail however the fire remains ‘active’ on the incident map.

A St John Ambulance has also just driven through the gates. This is the first ambulance @TheNTNews has seen go through the gates since arriving. pic.twitter.com/JotPngNjAK

— Judith Aisthorpe (@JudithAisthorpe) May 13, 2020

EARLIER UPDATE:

ALL prison staff have been called in and fire trucks have arrived at Darwin’s Holtze jail after a major breakout.

Prisoners at the jail reportedly broke out of their cells and climbed onto the roof of the prison late Wednesday evening.

Several fire trucks just arrived at the scene, including a truck with hazardous material response.

At least four fire trucks have driven into the Darwin Correctional Facility. The incident map shows there is a structure fire within the prison.
It comes as more than a dozen inmates have broken free from their cells. @TheNTNews pic.twitter.com/skzTyOOAlx

— Judith Aisthorpe (@JudithAisthorpe) May 13, 2020

According to the NT Fire Incident Map there is a structure fire at the prison.

There are about 300 prison officers employed at the jail.

According to a source within the prison system, a mass text message has been sent to all officers.

“Text went out, not sure how many of them will attend,” the source said.

“But it is the most of severe circumstances.”

Multiple police cars have arrived at the scene and one paddy wagon has left.
It is unclear if anyone was in the back of the vehicle.

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EARLIER:

According to a source, more than half a dozen prisoners have broken out of the medium security section of the prison, into the high security section.

NT Police were called to patrol the perimeter of the prison, including specialist TRG officers.

An NT Police spokesman said he “understood numbers (weren’t) certain” but that the incidents was “contained within (the) prison for now”.

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“They’ve escaped, sort of,” the source said.

“They’re now on the roof.

“These are prisoners who have been gazetted to be good enough to be (downgraded) to medium security — this is a direct effect of that.”

It’s understood the breakout happened about 7.50pm Wednesday evening.

“It’s really sketchy, no one really knows what’s going on,” the source said.

“But it’s basically a whole block who’ve gone.”

The source said the breakout happened at a time when there is one prison officer to 90 prisoners.

“That’s normally enough at night because they’re in their cells,” the source said.

It’s understood police and additional prison officers have been called to the prison.

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