A group of 29 Somali immigrants were remanded in custody this afternoon after they pleaded not guilty to trying to escape detention early today.

They were charged with damaging the Safi Detention Centre, threatening members of the Armed Forces of Malta and teh Detention Services, disobeying orders, slgihtly injuring a number of policemen and throwing stones and rocks at the building.

The immigrants are all aged between 18 and 25.

The Government said this morning the immigrants dislodged a number of stone slabs from a wall with the aim of escaping from their accommodation block.

This activity was noted by an alert detention service officer who  raised the alarm and called for assistance. The group responded by throwing back broken stones, hot water and other objects.

They were brought under control within a few minutes by the detention officers with the intervention of members of the police force from Zurrieq station and the Rapid Intervention Unit.

One detention service officer was slightly injured.

 

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