Immigrants stage protest over search

Illegal immigrants yesterday staged a protest against a search of their quarters, at the Safi detention centre.

Sources close to the army said a number of objects, which included pieces of metal, were found in the search.

A group of illegal immigrants set fire to several mattresses in the yard during the protest and the fire section of the Civil Protection Department had to be called in. The immigrants carried on with their protest in the yard and only agreed to return to their quarters after the intervention of the Commander of the detention centre, Lt Col Brian Gatt.

The search was carried out after some of the immigrants were found to be in possession of iron bars and other objects, the sources said.