Evacuate Manus after shots fired: churches

Church leaders have called on the Turnbull government to evacuate Manus Island detention centre after shots were fired into the camp.

A supplied image obtained Saturday, April 15, 2017 of the damaged outer gate to the Oscar Compound on Manus Island detention centre.

A supplied image obtained Saturday, April 15, 2017 of the damaged outer gate to the Oscar Compound on Manus Island detention centre. Source: JANE SALMON / AAP

Church leaders have called on the federal government to evacuate Manus Island detention centre after shots were fired into the camp on the evening of Good Friday.

The Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce, representing several Christian church leaders, issued a statement on Saturday calling on the government to "act with compassion" and evacuate the camp.

"For the latest outbreak of violence to occur on Good Friday, an important part of the Christian calendar, there can be no ignoring the synergy of suffering," the statement said.

On Friday evening a large group of local men reportedly tried to storm the detention centre and attack the asylum seekers inside.

The Australian Immigration and Border Protection Department confirmed in a statement an "incident" had occurred at the detention centre, and it was monitoring the situation.

The department said a male detainee had been injured when he was hit by a rock.

The incident, coming at a time of religious reflection for the Christian church, meant the policy of offshore detention could not be ignored, Taskforce Chair the Very Reverend Dr Peter Catt said.

"We must act to create safety and security for those who have languished in offshore detention for too long," Dr Catt said.


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Published 15 April 2017 5:08pm
Source: AAP


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