UK

Petrol bombs thrown at Border Force immigration centre in Dover

Petrol bombs have been thrown at a Border Force migrant centre in Dover.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service were called to The Viaduct in Dover at 11:22am after Reuters news agency – who had a photographer at the scene – reported a man threw petrol bombs attached with fireworks at the centre.

The photographer captured the moment the man threw the homemade bomb from the car window. The man can be seen with a lighter in his hand as he throws the container towards the centre.

He then took his own life following the incident, the agency said.

Witness Brian Wood told Sky News he was about 200 metres away from the migrant centre and heard “three bangs” and saw smoke.

“Then I heard the alarms going and people yelling and shouting,” he added.

Police arrived minutes afterward and cordoned off the area.

Kent Police said: “Officers established that two to three incendiary devices had been thrown into a Home Office immigration premises.

“One minor injury has been reported.

“The suspect has been identified and located. Enquiries into the incident remain ongoing.”

Immigration minister Robert Jenrick said he was being kept updated on the situation in Dover, tweeting: “Earlier today there was a serious incident at Dover.

“I am being kept regularly updated by the police.

“My sympathies are with those involved and my thanks and admiration are with Kent Police and Border Force officers as they go about their essential work to keep us safe.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We are aware of an incident at Western Jet Foil, Dover and police are in attendance.

“It would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage.”

It comes as almost 1,000 migrants arrived in the UK yesterday, making the treacherous journey across the world’s busiest shipping lane and landing at Dover.

Labour’s shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper tweeted it was a “deeply shocking incident”, adding: “Thank you to the emergency services for responding. Thoughts with all those affected by this.”

Nathalie Elphicke, the Conservative MP for Dover, said she was “deeply shocked”.

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