Detainees riot at Christmas Island detention centre over death of asylum seeker
Detainees at Christmas Island detention centre are rioting over the death of an Iranian asylum seeker, a refugee advocate says.
A number of detainees have rioted at Christmas Island following the death of a man who escaped from the Australian-run detention centre.
Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul says fences and walls have been knocked down and fires have been started in some sections of the detention centre.
"The canteen has been burnt down," he told AAP.
Labour MP Kelvin Davis, who recently visited the island, says he's been told by a New Zealander held at the centre that detainees have staged a two-hour riot.
Christmas Island: "The guards have disappeared. We can't see them." The calm before the storm? #freethe501s
— Kelvin Davis (@NgatiBird) November 8, 2015
Christmas Island: walls have been ripped out so they won't be able to lock us up again.
— Kelvin Davis (@NgatiBird) November 8, 2015
Christmas Island detainees:They are going to bash us and break bones. Get someone over here to check our injuries as evidence. #freethe501s
— Kelvin Davis (@NgatiBird) November 8, 2015
Just got off the phone to detainees. They're scared they'll be shot. #freethe501s
— Kelvin Davis (@NgatiBird) November 8, 2015
It followed the death of an asylum seeker, believed to be Iranian Kurdish Fazel Chegeni, who was found on Sunday following his escape from the detention centre on Friday.
In Twitter posts written on Monday morning, Mr Davis said: "BREAKING; Christmas Island Detainees are rioting. They've had enough."
A further update, also carrying the #freethe501s hash tag, explained that the fight broke out after a detainee was allegedly attacked after inquiring about the death of the asylum seeker.
The MP said guards had fled the centre leaving detainees scared for their safety.
"They're scared they'll be shot," he tweeted.
He quoted the detainee as saying: "The guards have disappeared. We can't see them."
"They are going to bash us and break bones. Get someone over here to check our injuries as evidence."
Australian authorities have yet to respond to the reports.
