Fire after riot at asylum centre.
From The BBC | 15.02.2002 06:39
Firefighters are battling a major fire after a riot broke out at Yarl's Wood asylum seeker detention centre.
Police believe some asylum seekers were able to escape from the centre during the chaos but are unsure of the exact number.
Three people - believed to be Group 4 warders - were treated for "cuts and bruises", a spokeswoman for Bedford Hospital said.
But police were unable to confirm initial reports that some staff at the centre in Clapham, Bedfordshire were taken hostage and their keys stolen.
It is understood that hundreds of detainees, mainly eastern European, were involved in the disturbance, which started around 1800 GMT.
A fire started in the reception hall of the centre and was put out by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus.
But a number of fires then broke out in one wing, although it remains unclear how these started.
Jacqui Manners, of Bedfordshire Fire Service, told BBC News 24 she could not comment on reports that detainees were locked into their rooms while the fire was being fought.
"It's contained in the one block.
"But because of the nature of the premises we have the largest turnout of firefighters that we have had for a number of years."
More than 15 fire engines - including reinforcements from Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire - were sent to the scene and are continuing to tackle the blaze.
Residents living nearby have been told to lock their doors.
Eyewitnesses saw a helicopter using a searchlight circling overhead while a number of police units and ambulances were also at the centre.
Blaze the priority
A spokesman for Bedfordshire Police told BBC News Online said officers were currently only concerned with "maintaining a perimeter" and ensuring the safety of the remaining detainees on the rest of the site.
He said more than 100 police officers were at the scene but would only be able to account for detainees and warders once the fire was dealt with.
"When the fire is under control we will start to look at the rest of the buildings."
He added: "There was a disturbance early in the evening.
We do believe a number of people may have left the compound but we are busily engaged in the fate of other people.
Police reinforcements were called in from Hertfordshire and the Metropolitan Police.
Group 4 Falck - who have the contract to run the centre - describe it as a "secure facility" which houses asylum seekers in hostel-type accommodation.
The centre has room for 900 refugees, although it only currently houses 400.
The occupants have come from a variety of countries and are held while their cases are being considered by the immigration service.
It is understood several hundred of the detainees are allowed to associate freely at any one time.
The centre is believed to have cost more than £100m and was only officially opened last month
But it has already been affected by controversy with civil liberties protests at its opening and candlelit vigils for ethnic Albanian hunger striker Gjevat Cerkini.
Three people - believed to be Group 4 warders - were treated for "cuts and bruises", a spokeswoman for Bedford Hospital said.
But police were unable to confirm initial reports that some staff at the centre in Clapham, Bedfordshire were taken hostage and their keys stolen.
It is understood that hundreds of detainees, mainly eastern European, were involved in the disturbance, which started around 1800 GMT.
A fire started in the reception hall of the centre and was put out by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus.
But a number of fires then broke out in one wing, although it remains unclear how these started.
Jacqui Manners, of Bedfordshire Fire Service, told BBC News 24 she could not comment on reports that detainees were locked into their rooms while the fire was being fought.
"It's contained in the one block.
"But because of the nature of the premises we have the largest turnout of firefighters that we have had for a number of years."
More than 15 fire engines - including reinforcements from Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire - were sent to the scene and are continuing to tackle the blaze.
Residents living nearby have been told to lock their doors.
Eyewitnesses saw a helicopter using a searchlight circling overhead while a number of police units and ambulances were also at the centre.
Blaze the priority
A spokesman for Bedfordshire Police told BBC News Online said officers were currently only concerned with "maintaining a perimeter" and ensuring the safety of the remaining detainees on the rest of the site.
He said more than 100 police officers were at the scene but would only be able to account for detainees and warders once the fire was dealt with.
"When the fire is under control we will start to look at the rest of the buildings."
He added: "There was a disturbance early in the evening.
We do believe a number of people may have left the compound but we are busily engaged in the fate of other people.
Police reinforcements were called in from Hertfordshire and the Metropolitan Police.
Group 4 Falck - who have the contract to run the centre - describe it as a "secure facility" which houses asylum seekers in hostel-type accommodation.
The centre has room for 900 refugees, although it only currently houses 400.
The occupants have come from a variety of countries and are held while their cases are being considered by the immigration service.
It is understood several hundred of the detainees are allowed to associate freely at any one time.
The centre is believed to have cost more than £100m and was only officially opened last month
But it has already been affected by controversy with civil liberties protests at its opening and candlelit vigils for ethnic Albanian hunger striker Gjevat Cerkini.
From The BBC
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