A number of migrants were arrested on Monday afternoon following a new disturbance at the Safi detention centre.

The protest started at around 10.30am, with migrants putting up banners over the barbed wire fence and insisting that they are not criminals and that their rights should be safeguarded.

According to reports, objects were thrown at Detention Service personnel at one point, prompting police officers in riot gear to move in and make a number of arrests.

The disturbance was brought under control at around 2pm. A number of migrants were seen being handcuffed and taken away in a police van.

In a statement, the police said it had identified a number of people who had instigated the protest and is holding them for further investigations. No one was injured but some of the migrants blocked the entrance to the dormitories and caused some damages, the police said. 

A number of such protests have taken place at the centre over the last two months.

Earlier this month, a violent protest took place at the Hal Far detention centre, with the police arresting around 100 people and charging them in court.  

 

Photo: TVM