Fire-hit centre counts number of asylum escapees

A head count was today being carried out at an immigration removal centre hit by a major fire to determine the number of asylum seekers who escaped.

A series of blazes was lit in an administration block at the Yarl’s Wood centre near Bedford in England and spread through the complex, Bedfordshire Fire Service said.

Four people, including a police officer, were injured and the 400 detainees in the centre failed asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected were evacuated from the buildings, a fire spokeswoman said.

A number of refugees were believed to have escaped from the centre and police were attempting to find out how many were unaccounted for.

John Bates, from security firm Group 4, which runs the centre, said four people had been recaptured and efforts were now under way to determine how many, if any, were on the run.

The first fire started shortly after 8pm yesterday in the reception hall but was extinguished by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus.

Other blazes in the same wing followed.

More than 80 firefighters, including back-up from the Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire brigades, were brought in.

Today a spokesman for the Bedfordshire Fire Service said the blaze was still raging but was under control. ‘‘Substantial’’ damage had been caused to large parts of the complex.

Police were initially called to a disturbance at the Yarl’s Wood centre, at Clapham, near Bedford.

A spokesman said: ‘‘There was a disturbance early in the evening. We believe a number of people may have left the compound.’’

A source at the centre said: ‘‘It certainly appears to be a breakout attempt and we suspect some people have escaped, but we can’t say for sure yet.’’

Mark Littlewood, from human rights group Liberty, said he had heard the disturbance was started after a 55-year-old woman detainee was badly treated.

He said: ‘‘There are rumours that the trouble began after a woman who was being taken to hospital to receive medical treatment was handcuffed.

‘‘The early indications are that the conditions at the centre were pretty harsh. Sooner or later it’s not surprising an incident like this would occur, which isn’t to condone the violence.

‘‘To put hundreds of people together in one place rather than dispersing them across the country is much more likely to trigger this sort of incident.

‘‘We need to take a long, hard look at the incident and at the treatment of asylum seekers in general. They need to be treated fairly, calmly and justly not like common criminals.’’

Last night there were 400 people at Yarl’s Wood Britain’s largest immigration centre, which was built last year to house 900.

It was one of three new centres opened by the Home Office to speed up the removal of asylum seekers whose applications have failed.

Alistair Burt, Conservative MP for North East Bedfordshire, said an inquiry should be held.

‘‘This was a major incident, although it could have been worse. There will have to be serious questions answered at an inquiry after this. I am worried for the safety of people who live round here,’’ he said.

A spokeswoman for Bedford Hospital said the latest information was that four people had needed hospital treatment.

‘‘They required attention for cuts and bruises rather than for burns or smoke inhalation. Three people were released after treatment and one was admitted, although this was for observation rather than any serious injury,’’ she said.