Immigration Minister Describes 'Disturbance' on Christmas Island

The Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Peter Dutton, on Monday morning, November 9, said “there has been a disturbance at Christmas Island.” Dutton was responding to a question in parliament about reported riots at the island’s Australian-run immigration detention centre overnight.

Dutton said the “disturbance” began just after 11pm on Sunday, November 8. The centre houses 203 people, none of whom are women or children, according to Dutton.

Dutton said there had been an initial response by Serco, the private security company that runs the centre.

Dutton confirmed the death of Fazel Chegeni, a detainee who escaped on Saturday, but said his death was not considered by authorities to be suspicious. Credit: Parliament of Australia