Twenty-eight migrants who took part in a riot in September were jailed yesterday and another was acquitted, with the magistrate saying violent scenes such as that had no place in civil society.

In a bid to escape detention, 29 immigrants had dislodged a number of stone slabs from a wall at the Safi detention centre.

When a detention service officer raised the alarm, the group threw hot water and broken stones 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 Żurrieq station and the Rapid Intervention Unit.

Magistrate Aaron Bugeja said that while he understood the plight of the immigrants, who found themselves detained against their will and in their prime, he could not turn a blind eye to the violence that played out.

Five immigrants, who were minors at the time of the incident, were jailed for 13 months. A sixth minor, who had relapsed, was jailed for 15 months. Another 21 migrants were jailed for 20 months while one who had relapsed for 22.