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Italy migrant revolt sparks blaze | Italy migrant revolt sparks blaze |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Immigrants being held at a detention centre on the Italian island of Lampedusa have set fire to the facility after trying to escape, police say. | Immigrants being held at a detention centre on the Italian island of Lampedusa have set fire to the facility after trying to escape, police say. |
Unconfirmed reports said some 14 people were treated for smoke inhalation. | Unconfirmed reports said some 14 people were treated for smoke inhalation. |
The revolt was reportedly sparked by news that 107 Tunisians were to be deported by the Italian authorities. | The revolt was reportedly sparked by news that 107 Tunisians were to be deported by the Italian authorities. |
Last month, hundreds broke out of the centre in protest at a new policy that required them to be held until their asylum applications were processed. | Last month, hundreds broke out of the centre in protest at a new policy that required them to be held until their asylum applications were processed. |
The protesters also complained about overcrowding at the centre, which was built for 850 but was holding 1,800 at the time, forcing hundreds to sleep outdoors. | The protesters also complained about overcrowding at the centre, which was built for 850 but was holding 1,800 at the time, forcing hundreds to sleep outdoors. |
'Revolt' | 'Revolt' |
Lampedusa's police chief Girolamo Di Fazio said the numbers at the site had since been brought back down to around 860 people, but these had staged a "revolt". | Lampedusa's police chief Girolamo Di Fazio said the numbers at the site had since been brought back down to around 860 people, but these had staged a "revolt". |
This is the fault of the government... the immigrants are exasperated Dino De RubeisMayor of Lampedusa Italy's migrants slowly integratingItaly torn by racial strains | This is the fault of the government... the immigrants are exasperated Dino De RubeisMayor of Lampedusa Italy's migrants slowly integratingItaly torn by racial strains |
"Some of them sought to escape by breaking through a gate, but they were pushed back by security forces," he told Italian television. | "Some of them sought to escape by breaking through a gate, but they were pushed back by security forces," he told Italian television. |
"A fire broke out in one of the buildings housing the illegal immigrants, largely destroying it." | "A fire broke out in one of the buildings housing the illegal immigrants, largely destroying it." |
The blaze was swiftly brought under control and order restored, he added. | The blaze was swiftly brought under control and order restored, he added. |
A spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) told the AFP news agency that a preliminary report found some 40 immigrants had been injured in the incident. | A spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) told the AFP news agency that a preliminary report found some 40 immigrants had been injured in the incident. |
The Ansa news agency meanwhile said 14 people were being treated for breathing problems and that 27 security officers were injured. | The Ansa news agency meanwhile said 14 people were being treated for breathing problems and that 27 security officers were injured. |
Lampedusa has become a favoured first destination for African immigrants hoping to gain access to Italy and the EU. | Lampedusa has become a favoured first destination for African immigrants hoping to gain access to Italy and the EU. |
The Italian interior ministry says about 31,700 immigrants landed on Lampedusa last year - an increase of 75% from 2007. | The Italian interior ministry says about 31,700 immigrants landed on Lampedusa last year - an increase of 75% from 2007. |
In the past, those migrants seeking asylum would have been sent to the Italian mainland. | In the past, those migrants seeking asylum would have been sent to the Italian mainland. |
But the role of the centre was changed last month, as the Italian government began a system to speed up the repatriation of the illegal arrivals. It has been renamed the Centre for Identification and Expulsion. | But the role of the centre was changed last month, as the Italian government began a system to speed up the repatriation of the illegal arrivals. It has been renamed the Centre for Identification and Expulsion. |
"This is the fault of the government... the immigrants are exasperated," Lampedusa's mayor, Dino De Rubeis, told Ansa. | "This is the fault of the government... the immigrants are exasperated," Lampedusa's mayor, Dino De Rubeis, told Ansa. |
"These new measures have shattered the calm which existed at the holding centre," said spokeswoman for the UN refugee agency. | "These new measures have shattered the calm which existed at the holding centre," said spokeswoman for the UN refugee agency. |
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