Fourteen Chinese detainees in Sydney's Villawood detention centre have been taken to hospital this afternoon after harming themselves.
The Immigration Department says no one has tried to commit suicide. It is understood two women and 12 men have been taken to hospital and that the men have slashed their wrists.
Uniting Church refugee advocate Frances Milne says her contacts inside Villawood say the incident began when a Chinese woman with a history of suicide attempts once more tried to take her own life. Ms Milne says an older woman became distressed when she saw the blood and suffered pains in her chest and that both women were taken to hospital.
"Now a short time later, 12 male Chinese in another part of Villawood detention centre also cut their wrists, but one, the opinion of one of the persons was that it was more, perhaps of a symbolic gesture, although he's not sure," she said. |