DHAKA: A riot has erupted at a controversial offshore refugee-detention facility in Australia following the death of an asylum seeker.

Immigration officers and refugees confirmed on Monday a standoff between detainees and officers at the detention camp on Christmas Island, located more than 2,000km northwest of Perth in the Indian Ocean, after a Kurdish Iranian refugee died there.

Fazel Chegeni, in his 30s, was reportedly found at the bottom of a cliff.

‘On Saturday morning (November 7) the department was advised of the escape of an illegal maritime arrival from Christmas Island Immigration Detention Centre (CIIDC) by service provider staff.

‘The matter was referred to the Australian Federal Police who commenced a search and discovered a deceased person today (November 8),’ the Australian government said in a news release, reports Al Jazeera.

The Department of Immigration said staff and security have been withdrawn for security purposes and denied a large scale riot was taking place.

‘The protest action began when a small group of Iranian detainees took part in a peaceful protest following the escape from, and death outside the centre, of a detainee on Sunday,’ its news release said.

Christmas Island Immigration Detention Centre is one of Australia’s many facilities where refugees who arrive by boat are taken until their documents are approved.

Currently, there are about 285 asylum seekers at the Christmas Island camp.

BDST: 1538 HRS, Nov 09, 2015
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