Efforts are underway to restore order after a disturbance at the Christmas Island immigration detention centre.
The Christmas Island immigration detention centre. Photo: AFP
The Australian Border Force (ABF) said a small number of detainees caused damage to the North West Point centre overnight and continue to refuse to follow the directions of authorities.
A spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition, Ian Rintoul, said it was believed detainees had set buildings ablaze in protest at living standards at the facility.
Footage posted to social media appears to show parts of the complex on fire and people on rooftops.
The ABF said it was working to regain control while a small number of detainees continued to be "non-compliant".
"The centre remains secure and the majority of detainees are not involved," a statement from the ABF said.
"There are no reports of any injuries to staff or detainees.
The Federal Government reopened the detention centre last year to house people whose visas had been cancelled on character grounds under section 501 of the Migration Act.
"Detainees held at the centre consist of unlawful non-citizens who have no entitlement to remain in Australia due to convictions for crimes such as assault, sexual offences, drugs and other violent offences," the ABF statement said.
"This cohort is detained because of their risk to the Australian community."
Riot comes after rising tensions, advocate says
A Facebook Live video posted by a man claiming to be inside the detention centre showed flames from buildings.
"They are burning the roof, they are sick and tired of being treated like s--t," the man said during his live video.
Rintoul said tensions had been building inside the detention centre for a series of weeks.
He said grievances from detainees had increased following a lack of contact from family and visitors after moving from the mainland amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
He also said detainees were locked in their compounds 22 hours a day.
The ABF has been contacted for comment.
- ABC
