Banksia Hill Detention Centre riot: Inmates light fires and scale roof

Most of Western Australia’s juvenile detention center has been destroyed overnight after a mass riot broke out with inmates lighting fires and climbing the roof.

Banksia Hill Detention Center in Perth, Western Australia, was thrown into chaos when inmates staged a riot that started at 8:30pm on Tuesday.

It is believed to have started after a prisoner “got keys and basically went around and unlocked every cell in the center.”

Female personnel overseeing all-male units are believed to have called for help while male inmates broke into the girls’ unit to release female inmates to support their entitlement.

Some male youth at Banksia Hill are sex offenders, which sparked fear after the girls’ unit was breached.

According to the Australianescaped prisoners were seen driving around the detention center in buggies setting fires.

Prison and police riot squads, some with police dogs, were dispatched to the center overnight.

Meanwhile, residents near Banksia Hill said they saw police helicopters flying above the facility with no lights on.

A Justice Department spokeswoman said prison guards were trying to rein in the out-of-control inmates.

“A number of detainees broke through their cells and began moving around the grounds and roof of the center, setting fires and causing extensive damage,” she said.

Some 50 detainees participated in the riot and started fires and jumped onto the roof of the centre.

“Attempts to negotiate with detainees continue, with some remaining on the roof of the center and throwing projectiles at front-line staff,” the spokesman said.

On Wednesday morning, it was reported that some detainees had begun to surrender – although the Justice Department still describes the incident as “ongoing.”

The fire and emergency services were called to extinguish the fire.

The Corrective Services Special Operations Group, a group that specializes in riots, is also on site.