Man hurls firebombs at UK immigration center, kills himself
- Man attacked Dover immigration office used to process asylum seekers crossing the Channel
- Attack came as the UK government seeks to curb record arrivals of migrants in small boats
An attacker threw firebombs an immigration centre in the English port town of Dover on Sunday before killing himself, officials said. Two other people were lightly injured in the attack and over 700 migrants had to be relocated.
The Kent Police force said “two to three incendiary devices” were thrown at the facility where recently arrived migrants are taken, and two people received “minor injuries”.
A news photographer at the scene said a man drove up and threw three petrol bombs at the facility before driving to a nearby fuel station and killing himself.
Police confirmed that “the suspect was identified, and very quickly located at a nearby petrol station, and confirmed deceased”. The force said “a further device was found and confirmed safe within the suspect’s vehicle”.
Local lawmaker Natalie Elphicke said “all the people who are at the centre are being looked after and precautions are being made for their safety”.
The motive for the attack was not known. Local police said they were not treating it as a terrorist incident and were keeping an open mind.
Dover is the arrival point for many migrants who cross the English Channel from France in small boats.
