AAP General News (Australia)
04-05-2001
Fed: Guards used tear gas to diffuse rioters
CANBERRA, April 5 AAP - Tear gas was used to break up a riot at Curtin Detention Centre
yesterday which left several officers injured and buildings burnt, Immigration Minister
Philip Ruddock said today.
Mr Ruddock said Australasian Correctional Management guards at the West Australian
centre resorted to tear gas when they were cornered by rioters and feared for their own
safety.
"I understand later in the day a number of officers - I believe two or three - were
caught in an area, surrounded by a large number of detainees, in considerable fear for
their safety," he told journalists.
"And in those circumstances, a small number of tear gas canisters were released in
order to disperse the crowd."
Mr Ruddock said a group of about 40 detainees had assaulted guards earlier in the day.
"One of the officers had a chair broken across his back and two others were seriously
assaulted," he said.
He said the rioters were from a group that was unlikely to be given refugee status.
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KEYWORD: RIOT RUDDOCK
2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.
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