A number of migrants were this morning jailed for damaging the Safi Detention Centre, threatening members of the Armed Forces of Malta and Detention Services, disobeying orders, slightly injuring a number of policemen and throwing stones and rocks at the building.

The incident happened in September last year. In a bid to escape detention, 29 immigrants had dislodged a number of stone slabs from a wall.

When a detention service officer 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.

Five of the immigrants, who were minors at the time of the incident, were jailed for 13 months, a sixth minor, who was a relapser, was jailed for 15 months. 21 were jailed for 20 months, one, a relapser, for 22 and one was acquitted.

When handing down judgment, Magistrate Aaron Bugeja said he understood the migrants frustration finding themselves locked up after a voyage which had to supposedly give them hope.

However, one could not ignore the fact that these violent episodes were becoming more frequent, at bigger risk to public order and to the detriment of people who worked at the centre. Public property was also damaged.

The magistrate said that the law was there to be obeyed by everyone. No one was above it and such violent outbursts were unacceptable in a civil society.