A teenager in Don Dale youth prison stabbed himself and was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital for surgery, sources have told the NT Independent, while the Territory Families Minister Kate Worden confirmed the boy had stabbed himself.

The 16-year-old used a plastic knife to stab himself several times in the stomach and was taken to the hospital, had surgery, and was taken back to Don Dale on Monday, one source said.

The NT News quoted an unnamed spokesperson for Territory Families Minister Kate Worden about the injury, saying a young person required medical treatment on Sunday night after “sustaining an injury”.

They added the boy had stabbed himself but it was not a suicide attempt.