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Asylum staff 'feared for lives' | |
(10 minutes later) | |
Staff at an immigration centre feared for their lives when detainees went on the "rampage", Southwark Crown Court has heard. | |
The riot at Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre, west London, in November 2006, lasted for 12 hours. | The riot at Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre, west London, in November 2006, lasted for 12 hours. |
Ali Mohammed Ahmed, Sherif El-Gazzaz, Andrey Pylaev and Alexsey Goryachiev all deny conspiracy to commit violent disorder and to damage property. | Ali Mohammed Ahmed, Sherif El-Gazzaz, Andrey Pylaev and Alexsey Goryachiev all deny conspiracy to commit violent disorder and to damage property. |
Inmates brandished "makeshift weapons" and threatened violence, jurors heard. | |
'Fires started' | 'Fires started' |
Mr Mohammed Ahmed, a 20-year-old Palestinian national, and his co-accused are charged with planning the disturbance between 31 October and 30 November 2006. | Mr Mohammed Ahmed, a 20-year-old Palestinian national, and his co-accused are charged with planning the disturbance between 31 October and 30 November 2006. |
Egyptian national Mr El-Gazzaz, 21, of no fixed address, has pleaded guilty to two counts of damaging property. | Egyptian national Mr El-Gazzaz, 21, of no fixed address, has pleaded guilty to two counts of damaging property. |
Russian national Mr Pylaev, 22 , also of no fixed address, has pleaded not guilty to two specific counts of damaging property. | Russian national Mr Pylaev, 22 , also of no fixed address, has pleaded not guilty to two specific counts of damaging property. |
Fellow Russian Mr Goryachiev, 26, of Victoria Street, Southport, Merseyside, has denied one count of the same charge. | Fellow Russian Mr Goryachiev, 26, of Victoria Street, Southport, Merseyside, has denied one count of the same charge. |
In the words of one officer the detainees were on the rampage Prosecutor Gareth Patterson | In the words of one officer the detainees were on the rampage Prosecutor Gareth Patterson |
Inmates started six fires at the centre, including in laundries and a canteen, and brandished legs of tables and chairs as "weapons", prosecutor Gareth Patterson told the court. | Inmates started six fires at the centre, including in laundries and a canteen, and brandished legs of tables and chairs as "weapons", prosecutor Gareth Patterson told the court. |
A woman officer narrowly missed being hit on the head by a shower rail which was thrown "like a spear", he said. | A woman officer narrowly missed being hit on the head by a shower rail which was thrown "like a spear", he said. |
Describing the scene, Mr Patterson said: "Lives were put at risk on several occasions during the disturbance. | Describing the scene, Mr Patterson said: "Lives were put at risk on several occasions during the disturbance. |
"Many staff it seems feared not only for themselves but their colleagues as they tried to do their jobs." | "Many staff it seems feared not only for themselves but their colleagues as they tried to do their jobs." |
The cost of the damage was estimated at being "in the millions". | |
Officers tried but failed to negotiate with the inmates who were "screaming about conditions", he said. | |
Mr Patterson added: "In the words of one officer, the detainees were on the rampage. Disorder was spreading. It seemed infectious." | Mr Patterson added: "In the words of one officer, the detainees were on the rampage. Disorder was spreading. It seemed infectious." |
It was when the lights were turned off, and detainees continued to throw items, that the order to evacuate was given. | |
Additional police and special Home Office Tornado restraint and control teams were called in to bring the situation under control, the court heard. |
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