Auckland youth justice facility in lockdown, armed teens in roof standoff

Armed teenagers are facing off with authorities at a youth justice facility in Auckland.

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Police were called to the incident at Korowai Manaaki Youth Justice Residence in Wiri about 12.40pm.

Seven people could be seen on the roof of the facility, armed with pipes and bits of metal.

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One appears to have what looks like blood on his clothing, and each of them has something in their hand like tools, metal pipes or scrapers.

At about 5.20pm, the facility had gone into lockdown. Police could be seen at the facility gates attempting to talk to the people on the roof.

Oranga Tamariki Deputy Chief Executive Mike Bush said six young people “forced their way out of a unit and accessed a roof area in the facility.”

There are seven people visible on the roof, however.

“Police and FENZ are on-site and helping Oranga Tamariki staff resolve this incident,” Bush said.

A Stuff visual journalist at the scene said there were at least eight police cars at the facility.

A police sergeant requested she move away as the police were trying to negotiate with the teens, who were playing up for her camera.

Firefighters were also in attendance and appeared to be waiting inside their fire engines.

It comes a week after a dangerous day-long standoff between police and a group of unruly teenagers at Te Puna Wai ō Tuhinapo in Burnham.

Stuff understands a group of five teenagers took a set of keys from a guard in a unit at the facility, escaped to the roof and refused to come down.

KFC was reportedly used to negotiate with the teenagers, who were given the fast food after they surrendered.

MORE TO COME.