MaltaMedia.com

As reported on timesofmalta.com, an AFM soldier was injured on Monday morning in a riot involving around 500 migrants at the Safi Detention centre. An officer of the Detention Service was also injured in these same riots.The migrants caused this riot at about 7am when they forced their way out of their compound. The riot was contained within the barracks and it is thought that no one managed to escape. It is understood that these migrants are all asylum seekers whose applications for asylum have been rejected.

The two injured men were taken to hospital but their condition is not believed to be serious. They appeared to have been hit by stones thrown in their direction.

Official sources have also said that two fires had been started and that damage was caused to a building, known as the warehouse, where more of the migrants live. The most serious damage, however, was caused to the migrants’ education centre within the barracks, where computers and a projector were destroyed.

Army and police reinforcements, including the SAG, managed to force the migrants back into the compound but no tear gas was used. An AFM helicopter was also seen flying low over the area.
By 9am the situation was under control. he police remained on stand by, while members of the SAG, carrying riot shields, moved out of the detention compound but stayed within Safi barracks.

Meanwhile, at about 9.25am, members of the SAG were seen going into the migrants’ compound again. Sources said the ring leaders were being identified and arrested.