Search for two illegal immigrants

The police have launched a manhunt for two illegal immigrants who escaped while they were under police detention at police general headquarters, in Floriana on Thursday night.

The police said the two were part of a group of seven who managed to escape from headquarters, but five of them were caught some time after their escape.

The police said it is believed that the seven immigrants escaped after cutting through a section of wire fence at the area where illegal immigrants are kept.

Immigrants who come to Malta illegally are kept under police detention until their application for refugees or humanitarian status is processed by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, or until they are repatriated.