http://www.news.com.au/world/breaking-news/migrants-light-shelter-in-italy-in-protest/news-story/32ae37e6e5102673e1847034e759c3ce
Migrants light shelter in Italy in protest
MAY 18, 20161:20PM
A group of migrants has set fire to a shelter on the Mediterranean island of Lampedusa that caused no injuries, an Italian fire official says, marking an increase in tensions in the country's packed centres as arrivals continue.
Lampedusa's mayor, Giusi Nicolini, said one building was set ablaze on Tuesday and the four men suspected of lighting it had been identified. Several mattresses were set on fire, but the extent of the damage was not yet determined, a fire department spokesman said.
Two other times, in 2009 and in 2011, fire destroyed portions of the migrant centre, which has been the first port of call for tens of thousands of boat migrants sailing to Europe from Africa.
In the past two years, more than 320,000 boat migrants have arrived on Italian shores and many made their way north, bypassing European Union rules.
So far this year, more than 31,000 have arrived and Italian shelters are bursting at the seams even before the expected northern summer surge.
European law says migrants must stay in the country where they first enter the bloc, and that is determined by where they give their fingerprints, prompting protests by asylum seekers who do not want to stay in Italy.
Originally published as Migrants light shelter in Italy in protest
Received on Wed May 18 2016 - 05:41:05 EDT