54 illegal immigrants escape from Floriana depot

The police have mounted an intensive manhunt after 54 illegal immigrants, who were being detained at police headquarters in Floriana, escaped in the early hours of yesterday, police sources said. Police sources believe the missing immigrants climbed...

The police have mounted an intensive manhunt after 54 illegal immigrants, who were being detained at police headquarters in Floriana, escaped in the early hours of yesterday, police sources said.

Police sources believe the missing immigrants climbed over a wall and jumped a height of three storeys to get away. It is understood that the escape of the men - mostly Somalis and Eritreans - was discovered after a headcount of the illegal immigrants detained at police headquarters.

The escapees are not armed. However, last month the 123 illegal immigrants, all men, detained at police headquarters had rioted, smashing police cars and injuring a police officer.

Two from Sierra Leone later said that the majority of the detainees wanted to be set free so that they could leave Malta.

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