A man who hurled petrol bombs at a migrant centre has been found dead at a nearby petrol station, police confirmed this evening.
The suspect was "very quickly located" after two to three incendiary devices caused a fire at a Border Force centre in Dover earlier today, said Kent Police.
Two people who were inside suffered minor injuries and the site remained open, although 700 people were initially moved to Manston asylum processing centre for safety reasons, added the force.
Photos were earlier released showing a man, believed to be in his late 40s or early 50s, throwing an object which appears to have a firework attached out of his car window.
Local Gary Smith, 31, claimed the suspect was laughing as he flung the bombs from a white Seat four-wheel drive vehicle.
He said: “I was walking over a nearby bridge and I could see him throwing the bombs. They were making loud bangs. I think he threw about four or five.
"He was just laughing while he was doing it. It was crazy. The man looked like he was in his 50s.
"I can't believe what happened afterwards too at the petrol station. I feel sick."
Another witness described the incendiary devices hitting the processing centre as sounding like "end of year fireworks".
The lorry driver, who gave his name as Francisco, came across the scene as he ran back to his truck. He said he started to run after hearing loud bangs similar to fireworks.
Francisco added: “There were loud bangs - about eight of them. It was like end of year fireworks. I ran back to the petrol station to see what was going on. It seems the bangs were coming from above the cliff.
“I got to the petrol station at the same time as police. It wasn’t a nice sight. I can’t believe why someone would do that. I feel sorry for the man.
"There were no customers in the car park at the time thankfully. Just the people in the shop.”
Another witness told Kent Online: "I heard what I thought was cannons going off and thought it must have been an event. We paused the TV to hear. There were at least six or seven.
“To think it was actually explosions that we heard is just so upsetting. I really hope no one is hurt.”
And a worker at the petrol station said: “I swapped shifts with the two people who were on at the time. They just wanted to get home. They looked really upset.
“When I came in to work I didn’t want to look at it. I wouldn’t have slept for days.”
The suspect was described as a white man wearing a striped top, who drove up to the centre before killing himself, said a Reuters photographer present at the scene.
A local MP later said the individual had taken their own life.
By the afternoon the scene had been cordoned off and forensic teams were working in the area.
Kent Police said in a statement: "Officers established that two to three incendiary devices had been thrown outside and into the premises by a single suspect who arrived at the scene in a car.
"Two people have reported minor injuries from inside the property. The suspect was identified and very quickly located at a nearby petrol station, and confirmed deceased.
"The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit attended the location to ensure there were no further threats. A further device was found and confirmed safe within the suspect's vehicle.
"The site remained open, however around 700 suspected migrants were relocated to Manston to ensure safety during the initial phase of the police investigation."
The incident came after almost 1,000 migrants arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel on Saturday.
A Home Office spokesman said: "We are aware of an incident at Western Jet Foil, Dover, and police are in attendance.
"It would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage."
Kent Fire and Rescue Service confirmed its crews had put out fires.
Natalie Elphicke, the Conservative MP for Dover, said she was "deeply shocked".
She later told LBC radio: "I understand that the Dover immigration centre that is at the Port of Dover was firebombed with a number of devices, before an individual then committed suicide."
She said the motivation of the perpetrator is so far unknown, but the centre is "a well-known facility" where small boats arrive before people are taken to the Manston.
"It's an absolutely dreadful situation that we have now at Dover," she added.
"I understand that all the people who are at the centre are being looked after and precautions are being made for their safety."
Ms Elphicke also said: "I think it is fair to say that tensions have been running high over the last period.
"And indeed, I'd raised my concerns about that with the immigration minister earlier this week."
Home Secretary Suella Braverman tweeted: "There was a distressing incident in Dover earlier today.
"I am receiving regular updates on the situation. My thoughts are with those affected, the tireless Home Office staff and police responding.
"We must now support those officers as they carry out their investigation."
Immigration minister Robert Jenrick will visit both Dover and the Manston processing centre to "take charge of the situation", Ms Elphicke said.
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