(AKI) - More than 85 illegal immigrants being held at a temporary reception centre started a riot overnight on Thursday in the city of Elmas near Cagliari on the Italian island of Sardinia.
Most of the rioters began destroying the building and furnishings in order to prevent an imminent deportation order, media reports said. About 50 police in riot gear and paramilitary Carabinieri police officers arrived at the scene. Most of the immigrants were of Algerian origin. There have not been any arrests, but the police headquarters have asked the interior ministry to transfer the illegal immigrants to another temporary holding centre. |