Jeddah, Mar 4: One person was killed and at least nine were injured in a stampede after violence broke out among deportees at the Shumaisy deportation center on Sunday, said Col. Atih Al-Qureshi, police spokesman for the Makkah region.
According to sources, chaos erupted when several inmates attempted to climb the walls of the center and attack the guards on duty, creating panic.
Security forces soon arrived to bring the situation under control.
“Police had repeatedly warned inmates to calm down, but they began vandalizing the premises instead,” said Al-Qureshi.
The rioting lasted for several hours.
“All of the inmates at the deportation center are awaiting the completion of procedures before returning to their home countries,” he said.
Police would not give further details on the nationality of the victim and the injured or the circumstances surrounding the incident.
However, the violence is rumored to have been instigated by inmates of African descent, who had previously been accused of provoking similar acts of violence at the center.
A senior diplomat from the country in question refused to speak on the matter.
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