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Mass Escape from Woomera Detention Centre

acrobat | 28.06.2002 10:38

34 asylum seekers last night escaped from the woomera detention centre in the South Australian desert. Five have so far been recaptured and four people have also been arrested for aiding the escape and are in custody in Port Augusta.

Mass Escape from Woomera Detention Centre

"34 asylum seekers last night escaped from the woomera detention centre in the South Australian desert. Five have so far been recaptured and four people have also been arrested for aiding the escape and are in custody in Port Augusta."

According to a report the break-out happened at about midnight, when protesters with vans drove up to the centre. The fence was then broken through. Police have set up road blocks and are searching an area of 200,000 square kilometres.

Arrest Update: Three people alleged to have "aided and abetted" an escape from custody have been released on bail from Pt Augusta police station

More reports as they come to hand.

The breakout occurred on the fourth day of a hunger strike by most of the detainees in the centre. It also follows previous breakouts during the easter woomera 2002 protests and a mass breakout by detainees in 1999.

Protesters in Melbourne are converging on Maribyrnong Detention Centre for a festival and civil disobedience against mandatory detention this Friday and Saturday.

Fore original stroy and updates - got to www.melbourne.indymedia.org

acrobat

Comments

Hide the following 2 comments

Guard towers

28.06.2002 12:45

I'd recommend guard towers with snipers like some US prison have, any attempt at escape is met with repeatdly warnings on a loud hailer and then once a person strays beyond certain clearly marked perimetre point, they are shot, preferably with a tranquiliser dart (seeing these arent criminals). Replace the tranq with a 7.52mm round for criminals.

1st_ammendment


1st_correcting

28.06.2002 13:52

7.62 even.

patriot