Two Still At Large After Escaping Secure Unit

Ten young offenders escaped from a secure unit after a late-night riot, it emerged today.

Police are still hunting two of the youths who went on the run following the incident at St Mary’s Kenmure in Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire.

An estimated £100,000 worth of damage was caused at the facility on Saturday night after fires were started, computers smashed and staff attacked.

Twelve youngsters have been arrested and the unit has been temporarily closed while investigations continue.

The incident, which happened late on Saturday night and escalated into the early hours of yesterday, is the second disturbance in the last month at St Mary’s.

A Strathclyde Police spokesman said: “Ten youths made off from the premises and eight were traced a short time later.

“Inquiries are continuing to trace two males, aged 14 and 16.

“A total of 12 youths have been arrested in relation to the incident and are presently in police custody.”

He added that a report would be sent to the procurator fiscal.

The centre, which is run by the Cora Foundation charity for the Roman Catholic Church, has been closed while police conduct “evidence gathering”.

The spokesman added that this was likely to take at least a day.

A spokesman for the unit’s board of managerssaid: “Young people in the central courtyard of the secure unit smashed windows and furniture.

“Strathclyde Fire and Rescue assisted in ensuring staff and other pupils were moved to a safe area.

“The disorder ended with 10 young people breaking through security glass in an accommodation block. Police apprehended eight, while two are still at large.”

A Strathclyde Fire and Rescue spokeswoman confirmed they had attended the unit after reports of an alarm being activated.

St Mary’s Kenmure is a residential facility designed to offer support and education to behaviourally challenged young people.

It is not a prison, but the young residents are not free to leave unless they are supervised.