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DOVER, England, Oct 30 (Reuters) – A man threw a petrol bomb laced with fireworks at a migrant processing center in the southern English port of Dover on Sunday and then killed himself, a Reuters photographer said.
The attacker, a white man in a checked shirt, drove towards the center in a white SEAT sports utility vehicle at about 1120 GMT. He got out and threw three petrol bombs, one of which failed to go off, the photographer said.
He then drove to a nearby petrol station, tied an improvised noose around his neck, tied it to a metal pole and fled, the photographer said.
The reason behind the attack is not known. Local police said they are not treating it as a terrorist incident and are keeping an open mind.
It comes at a time when British policy towards migrants and asylum seekers is a hot political issue.
The Dover facility is the first stop for thousands of people who make the perilous journey across the English Channel before their claims to stay in Britain are reviewed before they are sent to other accommodation.
Kent Police said two to three incendiary devices were thrown outside and onto the premises by a man in a car.
[1/9] A man throws an object through a car window next to a Border Force center after a firebomb attack in Dover, Britain, on October 30, 2022. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls
“Two people were reported to have suffered minor injuries inside the property. The suspect was identified, and was quickly located at a nearby petrol station, and confirmed deceased,” a police statement said.
Police added that they found one more device inside the attacker’s vehicle, which was confirmed to be safe.
A video posted on social media by a GB News reporter showed staff putting out a small fire on a wall outside the centre.
There has been a sharp rise in the number of people attempting the dangerous crossing over the Channel to enter Britain. The government has faced criticism from some quarters that border controls are too lax, while charities and human rights groups say asylum seekers are being treated inhumanely.
On Saturday, The Times reported that decisions by Home Secretary Suella Braverman had led to overcrowding and outbreaks of scabies and diphtheria at an isolated migration processing center in Kent, citing multiple government sources.
Braverman said there was a “tragic incident” in Dover on Sunday.
“My thoughts are with those affected, the tireless Home Office staff and police responding. We must now support those officers as they investigate them,” she said.
Writing by Andy Bruce, Additional reporting by William Schomberg Editing by Frances Carey, Angus McSwan and Sandra Meller
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
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