Immigrants in Antwerp threatened to kill themselves 21/07/2008 00:00

Two illegal immigrants at the closed detention centre in Merksplas climbed on the roof Sunday evening and threatened to kill themselves.

21 July 2008

ANTWERP - In the closed detention centre in Merksplas in Antwerp province, two illegal immigrants climbed on the roof Sunday evening and threatened to kill themselves.

The two, a man from Iraq and a man from Algeria, climbed on the roof of the detention centre and threatened to kill themselves by jumping down.

The two demanded their immediate release from the centre and also wanted to highlight the bad living conditions in the centre.

Members of the Merksplas management and rescue workers negotiated, but it was not until a special police unit took over, that the two eventually gave themselves up.

The incident also caused unrest in the rest of the detention centre. Police had to intervene after windows had been smashed and furniture had been damaged.

Sunday’s occurrence is the second similar incident in a week. Last Wednesday, a man from Iraq threatened to jump to death.

[flandersnews.be / Expatica]

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