Updated 4:20pm, Friday: Police say the seventh and final youth was safely taken into custody in Smithton a short time ago.
The seven youths who escaped made up over a third of the approximately 18 youths who are currently detained at the centre.
Updated 1:20pm, Friday: Two young people remain on the run after escaping from the Ashley Youth Detention Centre overnight.
A teenage boy was taken into custody a short time ago after handing himself in to the Glenorchy Police Station.
A second boy was arrested in the state’s north-west around 12:40pm, police say.
“The police operation continues for the two remaining youths outstanding,” a spokesperson said.
Earlier: Police are searching for four teenagers who remain on the run after seven young people escaped from Ashley Youth Detention Centre on Thursday night.
Three of the escapees have been returned to custody at the Deloraine facility.
The group, aged 14 to 17, broke out just before 7pm after a disturbance in which three staff members were assaulted.
One staff member received injuries to their neck and hands. Their injuries are not life-threatening, police said.
The teenagers fled in a blue Subaru WRX stolen from the centre’s carpark.
Police deployed ground crews and a rescue helicopter to track them across the state’s north.
The vehicle was found abandoned in Penguin, about 85 kilometres away, just after 10pm.
Police believe the group then fled on foot. One teenager was taken into custody just before 1am on Friday.
Two others “commandeered” a second vehicle near Ulverstone about 7:30am and were arrested a short time later “without incident”, police said.
The search for the remaining four is continuing across the north and north-west.
All four were last seen wearing black pants and a black top or hoodie. Police described them as being between 170 and 180 centimetres tall.
One has short brown hair with blonde tips and a rat’s tail, another has short dark hair, the third has long dark hair and the fourth has short light brown hair.
“While there is still no specific threat to the wider community, members of the public are advised not to approach the young people,” police said.
Anyone who sees them should contact police on 131 444 or Triple Zero (000) in an emergency.
The search is expected to continue throughout Friday.
