The suspect has been found dead after throwing petrol bombs at a Border Force immigration center in Dover, police have said.
Emergency crews were called to the site in Kent shortly after 11.20am after news agency Reuters – which had a photographer at the scene – reported that a man had thrown petrol bombs with fireworks at the center .
The photographer captured the moment the man threw the homemade bomb from the car window. The man was seen with a lighter in hand as he threw the container towards the centre.
After the incident, he committed suicide, the agency said.
Image: A fire burns next to the center of the Border Force
Witness Brian Wood told Sky News he was about 200 meters from the migrant center and heard “three bangs” and saw smoke.
“Then I heard the alarms and people screaming and shouting,” he added.
Kent Police said “two or three incendiary devices” were thrown into the center by “a single suspect who arrived at the scene in a car”.
Two people suffered minor injuries and the suspect was later found dead at a nearby gas station, the force added.
Officers found another device in the suspect’s vehicle that has been confirmed safe, Kent police said.
Around 700 suspected migrants have been moved from the site to the Manston migrant processing center in Kent “to ensure safety during the initial phase of the police investigation”, according to the force.
Earlier this week, an immigration watchdog said it was left “speechless” by conditions at Manston and warned the site is now past the point of being unsafe.
Borders and Immigration Chief Inspector David Neal told MPs on Wednesday that Manston was originally meant to house between 1,000 and 1,600 people, but that there were 2,800 on site when he visited on Monday, and that they had arrived month.
Image: Emergency services near the migrant processing center
Home Secretary Suella Braverman described the incident in Dover as “distressing” and said she was “getting regular updates” on the situation.
“My thoughts are with those affected, the tireless Home Office staff and the police who are responding,” he added.
Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said he was also being kept up to date, tweeting: “There was a serious incident in Dover earlier today.
“The police inform me regularly.
“My condolences go out to those involved and my thanks and admiration go out to Kent Police and Border Force officers as they do their essential work to keep us safe.”
Image: A tent is placed around the suspect’s car
Labour’s shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper tweeted that it was a “deeply shocking incident”, adding: “Thank you to the emergency services for responding. Thoughts with all those affected by this.”
Natalie Elphicke, the Tory MP for Dover, said she was “deeply shocked”.
It comes as almost 1,000 migrants arrived in the UK yesterday, making the treacherous journey across the world’s busiest sea route and landing in Dover.