VALLETTA, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- A riot occurred at Malta Hal Far open center here late Sunday night, leaving at least five staff cars torched and a police officer slightly injured.
Malta's Home Affairs Minister Michael Farrugia said that the mass riot was sparked by a row between a security officer and a drunk Nigerian migrant who was not allowed to enter.
Police were called on site and when attempting to arrest the drunk migrant, a clash broke out between fellow migrants and the police.
The Hal Far open center is located close to Malta's airport. Migrants who are disembarked in Malta are housed at the open center after they are detained for some time due to pending medical screening.
A spokesperson for the police told Xinhua that the police were informed at around 10 p.m. when some migrants took control of a part of the open center. The situation was brought back to normal at around 4 a.m. on Monday.
One police car was also damaged. A police investigation is ongoing.
