Migrants, brawl erupts at Lampedusa hotspot: at least 15 injured

Last Updated: July 23, 2023

#Agrigento
A fight broke out between Tunisian and Sudanese migrants, mostly minors, inside the Lampedusa hotspot. At least one hundred migrants were involved, and the situation was calmed down by police officers on duty at the reception center. Around fifteen people were injured, but not severely, mainly with head wounds and bruises due to a hail of stones. The injured individuals are now waiting in line in front of the infirmary at the hotspot to receive medical treatment from the Italian Red Cross personnel. The exact cause of the initial spark is unclear, but in recent hours, dissatisfaction had been growing among the underage migrants. Some have been staying at the facility for about twenty days, while others have been there for less time. However, all of them have witnessed the continuous and systematic transfer of thousands of migrants who arrived after them. It was not easy to explain to them that the process for accommodating minors is different from that for adults who can stay in the hotspot for a maximum of 36 hours. This morning, a protest broke out with a fight seemingly triggered by a group of Tunisians who arrived between yesterday and the day before. Currently, there are 950 underage migrants hosted at the hotspot. In recent days, the number reached a maximum of 1,150. However, since yesterday, the transfers also involve minors. Today, 300 of them will leave the island.