Police aimed assault weapons at unarmed youths, leaked CCTV shows

Leaked Don Dale CCTV footage obtained exclusively by the ABC shows the dramatic moments heavily armed Police aimed their guns at surrendering youth detainees and apprehended unarmed children during a riot.

Eight children have now been charged with taking part in the November 6 to 7 (2018) riot, which caused AU$750,000 worth of damage.

Rewind just a few hours, and the critical moment that sparked the riot is also captured on camera. Detainees and staff can be seen grouping near a doorway, when a detainee snatches keys from a guard. A scuffle breaks out and the guards retreat indoors. Detainees can then be seen unlocking cells and arming themselves with star pickets and broken table legs.

After the Police arrive, detainees using angle grinders to breach the exterior perimeter fence line are teargassed to force a retreat. The NT Police’s Tactical Response Group (TRG) also rescues guards and escorts them to safety. During the riot, the centre’s school burned down and detainees were filmed throwing rocks and objects over the fence line.

Police said their negotiations resulted in 13 detainees surrendering — the others, who numbered no more than a dozen, were gradually apprehended in the early hours of November 7.

At a media conference held on November 7, Police declined to say what weapons they had used to regain control of the centre.

However, the leaked footage makes clear they used laser scope assault weapons, and their BearCat armoured vehicle. The Department of Territory Families said they had a full complement of staff on the night of the riot, and the footage appears to show many private security guards at the centre, as opposed to youth justice officers.