*Arrests of "failed" Iraqi asylum seekers have occurred so far in London, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff and other areas. Some detainees had actually applied for and were awaiting voluntary return. No prior warning was given to community groups.
*Community groups have been dealing with a barrage of calls from anxious Iraqi Kurds and there are reports that some section 4 clients have "disappeared" fearfulo of detention/removal. Kurdish Cutural Centre in London has been receiving 80-90 calls a day. Contact Julian Walker/Soran Hamarash 020 7735 0918
*There are no definitive figures on the numbers detained. As of 12th August, Home Office officials were claiming 43. Kurdish support groups such as the KCC say it could be 200. Refugee Council estimates 60/70. Home Office claims all detainees have access to legal representation.
*One legal rep has claimed that no form of risk assessment has been carried out in respect of his client's imminent removal. The client has no idea of he has any family members left in Iraq to support him. He has simply been asked where he is from.
*It is not presently clear where detainees are being held. THe BBC has interviewed a detainee who was picked up in Derby and is now at Campsfield. Others may be at Tinsley House.
*HO sources make it clear that Immigration Service has rounded up large numbers of "suitable" Iraqis without warning because they expect Judicial Review applications and other legal challenges. This will reduce numbers on final flight list. HO expects about 20 to finally be removed. Refugee Legal Centre is looking for a client with a strong case to mount a legal challenge, a la Zimbabwe. RLC have also seen the HO press lines and are concerned with the content- which suggests anything BUT the case-by-case approach originally emphasised.
*HO hopes to have first flight of enforced removals by the end of August. Legal Rep at Fisher Meredith suggested the date to be Sunday 28th, indications that HO is still working to that date.
*Returnees will be flown to Cyprus. Then by military plane directly to new airport facility in Erbil in Kurdish adminstered Northern Iraq. HO regards this as a safe route. Although this doens't involve flying in or out of Baghdad, there is apotential threat to ALL aviation flying within Iraq, not just around Baghdad. Indeed commercial airlines are considered more vulnerable because they are not fitted with anti-aircraft missile systems. Military aircraft have also been brought down in Iraq. The Kurdish region also has problems with militant Isalmic groups such as Ansar-Al-Islam, which prompted many initial asylum claims before the fall of Saddam. The manager of Erbil airport is apparently unhappy with the flight, citing concerns about the very heavey security in and around the airport, about how returnees will reach their final destination, and threatening to put returness on the next plane back. UNHCR says using military aircraft will put people's safety in jepoardy as returnees will be associated with the multinational forces.