Malaysian in foiled escape bid at Australian immigration centre

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SYDNEY: Australian authorities today demanded a report on security at Sydney’s troubled Villawood immigration detention centre after a group of Chinese detainees and a Malaysian detainee attempted a mass breakout.

The 17, all visa overstayers, made their escape bid early yesterday morning, reportedly by attempting to scale the fence, AFP reported.
“The department can confirm that 16 Chinese nationals and one Malaysian national attempted to escape from Villawood immigration detention centre,” an immigration spokeswoman told AFP.

“The group was unsuccessful and none of the detainees were able to leave the Villawood compound.

“(The department) has called for a full investigation and a report from its detention service provider on what occurred,” the spokeswoman said.

Though government-funded, Australia’s immigration centres are run by private security contractors. – Agencies