Migrant suffers grievous injuries during Safi unrest

One of the 23 migrants who were yesterday involved in a fight which broke out at the Safi detention centre is suffering from grievous injuries but is not in danger of dying, police told MaltaToday.

Most of the migrants who are currently held at the detention centre made it to Malta over the past weeks. Sources said the Eritreans and Somalis involved in the fight had been arguing over "small issues", but one argument eventually escalated into a fight over a hot plate.

Of the injured migrants, eight migrants required hospital care, 10 were referred to the Floriana health centre for minor treatment while five others refused medical assistance.

The scuffle broke out hours after members of the media were invited by the government to visit the detention centre. During the visit, one migrant complained about the grouping of Somalis and Eritreans as this led to several small arguments between them.