A person threw petrol bombs hooked up with fireworks at a brand new Border Drive immigration centre in Dover then killed himself, a witness has mentioned.
The alleged attacker, a white man in a striped high, drove as much as the centre in a white Seat sports activities utility car. He acquired out and threw three petrol bombs, one in every of which didn’t go off, based on a photographer for Reuters.
One minor harm was reported, Kent police mentioned. The suspected attacker had been “recognized and situated”, it added. Police had been unable to verify experiences that the suspect had died and mentioned inquiries had been ongoing.
In a press release Kent police mentioned: “Officers established that two to a few incendiary units had been thrown right into a Dwelling Workplace immigration premises.”
Police arrived minutes afterwards and cordoned off the world. Video of the aftermath of the incident confirmed workers placing out a small fireplace on the centre’s exterior wall.
The obvious assault occurred at an immigration centre compound on the Dover harbour facet. The compound is the place individuals who have crossed the Channel in small boats are taken by Border Drive officers. It got here after virtually 1,000 individuals arrived within the UK after crossing the Channel on Saturday.
A Dwelling Workplace spokesperson mentioned: “We’re conscious of an incident at Western Jet Foil, Dover, and police are in attendance. It could not be acceptable to remark additional at this stage.”
A spokesperson for Kent fireplace and rescue mentioned: “Kent fireplace and rescue service was known as to an incident in Dover at 11:24, the place crews put out fires.” He didn’t elaborate.
Kent police, which is main the investigation into the incident, has but to remark. The Metropolitan police mentioned its counter-terrorism officers weren’t concerned within the investigation.
The incident has prompted a name for politicians to cease utilizing anti-immigrant rhetoric.
Clare Moseley, the founding father of the marketing campaign Care4Calais, mentioned she was involved current rhetoric by ministers could have been an element within the assault.
She mentioned: “We’re seeing an escalation in hate on social medial and threats towards our volunteers. The rhetoric from this authorities’s ministers is stunning and divisive. They name refugees in Calais ‘unlawful immigrants’ regardless of intensive proof they’re real refugees in determined want of assist.”
Moseley mentioned Sunday’s incident was reminder that hate speech may have lethal penalties.
She mentioned: “It could be kinder and more practical to easily assist individuals slightly than proceed this damaging marketing campaign that tears the material of our society and results in occasions similar to these.”
Natalie Elphicke, the Conservative MP for Dover, mentioned individuals on the Border Drive immigration centre had been being “taken care of” following the “dreadful” assault.
She instructed LBC radio: “I perceive that the Dover immigration centre that’s on the Port of Dover was firebombed with the variety of units earlier than a person then dedicated suicide.”
She mentioned the motivation was unknown, however the centre was “a well known facility” the place small boats arrived.
“It’s a completely dreadful state of affairs that we now have now at Dover,” she added. “I perceive that every one the people who find themselves on the centre are being taken care of and precautions are being made for his or her security.”