Immigrant detention centre relocates 150 people after fire
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A major operation was under way last night to relocate 150 people held in an immigration removal centre after a fire destroyed part of the building. The fire, at the Campsfield House detention centre near Kidlington, Oxfordshire, resulted in two men being taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.
It is not known what caused the fire, which broke out on Friday night in the largest of the centre's three residential blocks, but the Home Office has confirmed that it was not connected to any violence and that no members of staff were injured. The buildings were evacuated for three hours until the fire was brought under control by 10 fire engines.
The roof of the building collapsed and 150 of Campsfield's 216 detainees have had to be relocated to other immigration removal centres. A Home Office spokesman said: "All the detainees have been accounted for and two male detainees are now in hospital."
In 2008, detainees at Campsfield House set a series of small fires as a protest against another detainee being forcibly removed from his cell at 4am.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments