Athens, Aug 24.(dpa/GNA) – Violent clashes between police and migrants at a closed migrant detention centre in northern Greece, ended with five people injured and 17 in custody, authorities said on Sunday.
Public broadcaster ERTNews, quoted security officials as saying that rioting broke out on Saturday night at the facility in the municipality of Sintiki, which houses around 500 migrants, the majority of whom are due to be deported.
A group of migrants were reported to have torn down part of the inner perimeter fence, before throwing stones and other objects at police officers deployed at the scene.
Buildings, communal areas, surveillance cameras and other facilities were damaged in the rioting. Police responded in large numbers.
Some migrants managed to cut through part of the outer wire fence and leave the site, near the Bulgarian border, authorities said.
Three people were detained on the spot by police. A further 14 were found in the surrounding area shortly afterwards and arrested.
Five people were injured in the clashes and taken to hospital for examination. The 17 people arrested are now set to be brought before a public prosecutor.
Police are also investigating whether further residents were able to leave the closed facility during the unrest.
GNA