Camouflaged tactical response police responded to a major incident at Darwin's Don Dale Youth Detention Centre overnight.
The ABC observed detainees on the centre's roof, as negotiators tried to coax them down.
In a statement from the Department of Territory Families, it was confirmed the disturbance started about 3:00pm on Saturday afternoon when at least five boys started roaming the grounds armed with makeshift weapons including metal poles.
When the detention centre staff failed to regain control, the police were called at about 6:00pm.
Police used the centre's PA system to negotiate with the boys, all of whom were apprehended shortly before midnight.
Police said there were no injuries.
A drone was deployed by police to help monitor the boys' movements as they roamed around the centre.
The Department of Territory Families said all of the detainees who were not involved in the disturbance were locked down in their accommodation blocks while it was resolved.
The incident is one of a long string of similar disturbances.
In November last year rioting detainees burnt down the Don Dale school, and police regained control of the centre using assault weapons and tear gas.
Don Dale is set to be replaced after a royal commission into the NT's youth justice system condemned the facility in 2017.
The Northern Territory Government has not yet named a location for the replacement facility.
