Mr.Tariq Rashid, Colnbrook,c-wing,ground floor room 2. Has been in immigration detention for 19 months,and 2 weeks. He had begged for an asylum that was refused, and has remained in detention since he has applied for bail, and has gone for bail hearings 4 times,but he was refused them all.

He then begged to be sent back to Iraq and has filled voluntary
return forms 10 times, but the home office reply was that his country was too dangerous to remove him to.

So he was abandoned in detention,and after receiving yet another
monthly report telling him "your case has been reviewed and it has
been decided that you remain in detention till......" he sank into a
deep depression and yesterday 11th May 2006 at 8:45.p.m, after
looking at his family's pictures, he went to the office collected a
shaving razor, broke the stem and extracted the razor, and was
cutting himself when his friend walked in. his friend managed to
prevent him from completing the cut across his neck,but not before he had opened a 6 inch gash from the left side of his neck down to his breast bone.

He bled so much the officers had to spread plastic bags on the ground to prevent permanent damage to the carpet.this happened in full view of detainees. the nurses were called and he was quickly strechered out and taken to hospital outside. Mr.L who has also been in detention for 2 years,broke down crying.

The aftermath
This morning,at 8:30am an as yet unidentified Jamaican tried to jump from the second floor, but the alarm was raised by other detainees who managed to restrain him till the officers arrived. he has been placed on a "level 3, Suicide Watch".

Fifteen Minutes Later: Mr.****** from IRAN, was found by his room mate hanging from the door handle, by his own bedsheet. he had
earlier tried to cut his throat with a razor,but his room mate had
reported to the officers, but instead of counselling, he was locked
up in solitary confinement, that further aggravated his psychological
condition, and led to this second more determined attempt.

How many more deaths or attempts must the detainees see. The tension and anger in the whole center is palpable at the moment, inmates have witnessed three suicide attempts in 12 hours,and they have become desperate.

In retrospect to what happened on Sunday lunchtime, it is only a
matter of time before the inmates that are not strong enough to
commit suicide now summon up courage, or find other means to vent their simmering anger and desperation.

Last night alone the whole wing especially those currently on
hungerstrikes were subject to a half hourly "suicide prevention
check".

This is a sorry situation of able young men, driven to desperation
and suicide, a proof of Colnbrook's despair.


Colnbrook detainee