Sixteen asylum seekers are on the run after escaping from an immigration detention centre in Oxfordshire, British police said today.
After a fire was started yesterday evening at Campsfield House Immigration Detention Centre, around five miles north of Oxford, 26 detainees escaped. Ten were quickly recaptured.
"We're working to ensure everything is done as quickly as possible to locate the missing detainees," said Superintendent Robin Rickard.
"I'd ask that if members of the public see anyone acting suspiciously and believe they may have been involved in this incident to contact the police immediately."
The privately-run centre holds 196 male inmates awaiting deportation.
"The establishment itself suffered minor damage," said a Home Office spokesman.
In March nine people had to be taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation after a disturbance and fire at Campsfield.