Police say 20 male detainees – aged between 16 and 20 – have been arrested and remain in custody

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

An “urgent” independent review has been called following a riot at a juvenile justice centre on the New South Wales central coast which left seven people injured.

The riot broke out at Frank Baxter juvenile justice centre at Kariong about 8.30pm on Sunday, with reports several inmates assaulted each other, NSW police said in a statement on Monday.

Seven were injured and six were taken to hospital, including an 18-year-old who is in a critical condition.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Inmates on the Frank Baxter juvenile justice centre roof. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAP

Gareth Ward, the NSW minister for families and communities, said the government was treating the incident very seriously.

“I have asked for an urgent independent review into the incident. It will be conducted by former police assistant commissioner Lee Shearer,” he said.

“This inquiry will get to the bottom of what happened at Frank Baxter.”

“The independent review will be in addition to plans already in place to establish a unit at Frank Baxter to manage high-risk offenders.”

Several inmates climbed onto the roof of the complex, with nine detainees surrendering over the course of Monday.

Finally, just before 5.30pm, riot squad officers gained access to the roof where the remaining detainees surrendered peacefully, NSW police said in a statement.

“In total, 20 males – aged between 16 and 20 – have been arrested and remain in custody,” police said.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Riot police outside the detention centre. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAP

The union which represents prison guards alleged the offenders stole keys from an officer and took garden tools, including a hedge trimmer and shovels from a maintenance shed at the state’s largest juvenile justice centre.

The Public Service Association general secretary, Stewart Little, alleged the group targeted known sex offenders within the complex and described the riot as “nothing short of horrific”.

“We have a juvenile justice system that has descended into chaos,” he told reporters in Sydney on Monday.

He called for a judicial inquiry into the juvenile system, noting it’s not the first riot at the facility.

However, Gralton said it was early days in the investigation and he didn’t know if those injured were sex offenders.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Detainees seen on the roof on Monday morning. The riot broke out on Sunday night. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAP

He said police intended to charge anyone involved with the offence of riot, which carries a potential 15-year sentence.

Other detainees injured include an 18-year-old inmate with stab wounds and facial injuries who was in Royal North Shore hospital in a serious condition.

Four others, aged between 17 and 20, also suffered stab wounds and have been taken to Gosford hospital for treatment.

A 17-year-old was taken to the same hospital after dislocating his ankle when he jumped off a roof and another inmate was treated at the scene for a broken nose.

All inmates have been accounted for, police said.