Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has said the Manus Island incident where 100 gunshots were fired was sparked by asylum seekers leading a five-year-old boy into the centre.
On Good Friday at 6pm, a fight between locals and detainees was quickly broken up by the Papua New Guinea Navy Defence Force after rocks were allegedly thrown over the fence of the compound.
'There was concern about why the boy was being led or for what purpose he was being led back away into the regional processing centre,' Mr Dutton told Sky News.
'I think it's fair to say the mood had elevated quite quickly, I think some of the local residents were quite angry about this particular incident and another alleged sexual assault'.
The violent incident came after a refugee on Manus Island was last month arrested for the alleged sexual assault of a child.
Mr Dutton said he has no further details as the Good Friday incident is under investigation.
The five-year-old boy was returned to his parents unharmed.
At least one asylum seeker was injured when a large group of local men, including Navy personnel, tried to storm the detention centre and attack the asylum seekers inside.
More than 100 rounds of ammunition were fired into the centre, which was left peppered with gunshots. The incident sparked serious concerns for the safety of detainees and Australian authorities on the island.
Peter Dutton says Manus Island fight started by refugees | Daily Mail Online
On Good Friday at 6pm, a fight between locals and detainees was quickly broken up by the Papua New Guinea Navy Defence Force after rocks were allegedly thrown over the fence of the compound.
'There was concern about why the boy was being led or for what purpose he was being led back away into the regional processing centre,' Mr Dutton told Sky News.
'I think it's fair to say the mood had elevated quite quickly, I think some of the local residents were quite angry about this particular incident and another alleged sexual assault'.
The violent incident came after a refugee on Manus Island was last month arrested for the alleged sexual assault of a child.
Mr Dutton said he has no further details as the Good Friday incident is under investigation.
The five-year-old boy was returned to his parents unharmed.
At least one asylum seeker was injured when a large group of local men, including Navy personnel, tried to storm the detention centre and attack the asylum seekers inside.
More than 100 rounds of ammunition were fired into the centre, which was left peppered with gunshots. The incident sparked serious concerns for the safety of detainees and Australian authorities on the island.
Peter Dutton says Manus Island fight started by refugees | Daily Mail Online
