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Update 6 | Shots fired during Hal Far protest
Over 70 detainees at Hal Far reported to have damaged furniture inside detention centre, after arrival of four MPs on fact-finding mission.
The protests were short-lived as police arrived at the centre (Photo: John Pisani)
Updated
The presence of four MPs at the Hal Far migrant reception centre provoked a show of unrest by detained asylum seekers, in which shots were heard to be fired.
Earlier, MaltaToday had confirmed that four rubber pellets were fired to the ground, so that the richochet repels the detainees, but nobody had been injured or required hospitalisation from the police intervention.
Having initially denied that rubber bullets had been used - claiming that a taser gun was used which was "however not fully charged" - the ministry has now issued a statement confirming that rubber pellets had been fired as warning shots. It insisted, though, that no migrants were shot at.
Police and members of the Armed Forces were called in to calm down what was described as a "protest" taking place at the Hal Far centre, after MPs Jason Azzopardi, Deborah Schembri, Marlene Farrugia and Claudette Buttigieg - from the social affairs committee's sub-committee on migration - arrived there on a fact-finding mission.
Eyewitnesses said 18 detainees took part in the protest outside, but as much as 70 detainees were inside the barracks, damaging bedsteads and other furniture. A large number of officers from the Rapid Intervention Unit arrived on the scene and entered the detention centre, bringing the situation under control by 1pm.
Armed Forces personnel were present outside the detention centre but did not access the area.
Four of them, of Ghanian and Nigerian nationality, are likely to be charged in court with voluntary damage of government property, and fomenting unrest.
Witnesses said detainees were appealing to MPs, saying they were not criminals and that they should not be detained.
The MPs later proceeded to an open centre in a bid to diffuse the situation inside Hal Far.
Asylum seekers in Malta are detained for a period of 12 months, unless they are released earlier pending the resolution of their claims for international protection.
Asylum seekers whose refugee claim is refused a second time on appeal before the 12-month detention period is up, are detained for another six months, pending a removal order.
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spa2130 how about asking for respect from the illegal immigrants? They should all be deported back to their own countries before something really bad happens and then as the saying goes it will be of no use to cry over spilt milk. Also do not replace anything broken and make them work to pay for what they broke and for their living.
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Just deport them back to their own country. No wonder nobody wants them and won;t touch them with a barge pole.
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I suggest that whatever furniture was broken should not be repaired or replaced, even window panes, if they were broken deliberately, let them feel the consequences. Nobody asked these africans to come here, and they must realize that they are not doing us any favour either!
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Trouble makers should be deported. They should have stayed in their country of origin.
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Give them food and fuel and let them go wherever they wished to go before they put their foot on the island. If they don't like it here why keep them here.
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Imagine if all the illegals presently in Malta would riot too! Imsieken ahna!
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Here we go again. Putting our policemen/women and AFM personnel in harms way and why? Because of some ungrateful opportunists that do not appreciate the Maltese hospitality. They knew what is going to happen once they reach Malta, but they still came. And now they are threatening our way of life not to mention destroying government property in return? What kind of people bite the hand that feeds them. If they wanted to riot against authority they should have stayed in their own countries and they could have rioted all they want and also help their brothers and sisters fight the corruption that runs their country. I think that the world has to stop babying dictator rulers like Syria's al-Assad and I always thought that is what Nato is all about, but I guess Nato has other ideas. As one can see after the blunder they did in Iraq and in Afghanistan the USA is very slow to go in and interfere in other people's business and Dictators are very aware of this. It is Nato's duty to knock off Dictators who are murdering their own people. Don't let these few ungrateful, opportunists take advantage of our hospitality. if they do not Malta they can always go back to where they came from. Like many others I am sick and tired of putting our AFM and our policemen/women in harms way because of some ungrateful shit disturbers. All they are doing is making it worse for the rest of them.
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Just send them all back to their own countries and let them enjoy their freedom there.This is the ingratitude they show after saving them from drowning. Nigerians do not qualify for any asylu and Somalis no longer qualify for asylum. The have had a Constitution , a President and a government for nearly two years so ther is no excuse to let them stay here. Send them all back. Period.
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As devout catholics we should send all illegal immigrants back to where they came from with utmost dignity.
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The authorities stated that no rubber bullets were fired. The media, including Malta Today, claim that rubber bullets were fired. Someone must be lying! I tend to believe the media. We expect more respect from the authorities.
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Is this the kind of respect that you show to a Nation thats is doing all that it can to help you out. If I come to your country and break you're Governments property what will happen to me?? How will I be treated if I am an Illegal immigrant in your country?? Don't you think its high time you start respecting others especially those all over the world who try to help you??? You're giving a bad name to yourselves and to your countries. That's why people will be against you. The are other means to protest in a human way but surely not by breaking people's property especially when you're not paying any taxes in the countries you're in.
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To the refugees the visit was a provocation. They protested against authority, from which they had fled.
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"Who will Riot from the illegal immigrants must be deported !" you go into another country illegally than you hurt the police or the officers in charge while doing their duty??
Who will riot must be deported!
Saviour Falzon min hal-qormi.
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much love to all asylum seekers, possibly I feel this because I worked with them for over 2 years!!! xxx
