Christmas Island detainees riot over asylum seeker death
The immigration department has confirmed there has been a disturbance at its Christmas Island detention centre after the body of an escapee asylum seeker was found on Sunday.
"The department and its service providers are working together to resolve the situation," a spokesperson told AAP on Monday.
No injuries had been reported and any criminal offences would be referred to police.
REFUGEE'S DEATH SPARKS PROBE
'GUARDS FREAKED OUT AND LEFT'
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.
A number of detainees have rioted at Christmas Island following the death of a man who escaped from the Australian-run detention centre. Photo: 7 News
A NZ detainee told ABC NewsRadio convicted criminals with cancelled visas like him had joined forces with asylum seekers.
He said no one wants to be locked up any more.
"It all went haywire," the detainee said, adding guards were just circling the perimeter of the compound.
Kiwi Labour MP Kelvin Davis, who recently visited the island, has been in touch with a New Zealander in detention on the island.
Mr Davis said he'd been told detainees had taken over the centre and guards had retreated.
He claimed the riots began when a detainee who had asked questions about the death of the man was assaulted.
"They have put holes in the walls, so even if they are rounded up and put back in the cells they actually can't be locked up," Mr Davis told ABC radio.
Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul also said fences and walls had been knocked down and there have been fires started in some sections of the detention centre.
"The canteen has been burnt down," he told AAP.
Detainees at Christmas Island detention centre are rioting over the death of an Iranian asylum seeker, a refugee advocate says. Photo: 7 News
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
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."
