Another asylum seeker dies in detention

Yet another asylum seeker appears to have taken his own life while in detention - bringing to four the number of asylum seekers who have died in self-harm incidents in British prisons or immigration removal centres so far this year.

A week ago, on 7 November, Kenny Peter an asylum seeker (from either Liberia or Nigeria) died in Charing Cross hospital, nearly three weeks after sustaining injuries during an apparent self-harm attempt at Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centre. It is believed that on 19 October, Kenny jumped from a landing and sustained serious injuries - from which he later died.

Self-inflicted deaths of asylum seekers in detention

Below we list those other asylum seekers in detention who have apparently taken their own lives this year.

▪ Sergey Barnuyck, (31), 19/7/04, a Ukrainian asylum seeker was found hanged in Harmondsworth removal centre. His death sparked a night of disturbances at the centre and led to all the detainees being transferred to prisons and other detention centres.

▪ Tung Wang, (22), 23/7/04, a Vietnamese asylum seeker was found hanged in Dungavel removal centre in Scotland just days after being transferred from Harmondsworth removal centre after the disturbance.

▪ John Kanau Manana (24) 15/10/04, a Kenyan found hanged from a ligature in his cell at Leicester prison on 15 October at 3.55. Paramedics were called and attempted resuscitation and he was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4.50.

Thanks to John O at the National Coalition of Anti Deportation Campaigns.The Institute of Race Relations is precluded from expressing a corporate view: any opinions expressed are therefore those of the authors.

independent race and refugee news network > IRR > 2004 > November

Another asylum seeker dies in detention
By Harmit Athwal 11 November 2004, 7:00pm

© Institute of Race Relations 2004