A person staying at the Manston migrant processing centre has died, the Home Office has said.
Few details are so far known about the incident, but the Home Office said the person died in hospital on Saturday morning after “becoming unwell”.
A statement posted on Twitter by the Home Office said: “We express our heartfelt condolences to all those affected.”
A post-mortem examination is due to be carried out.
A person staying at our Manston facility has sadly died in hospital this morning after becoming unwell. We express our heartfelt condolences to all those affected. (1/2)
— Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) November 19, 2022
“We take the safety of those in our care extremely seriously and are profoundly saddened by this event.
“A post-mortem examination will take place so it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time,” the statement said.
A Home Office spokesperson said there was “no evidence at this stage to suggest that this tragic death was caused by an infectious disease”.
They added: “We take the safety and welfare of those in our care extremely seriously and provide 24/7 health facilities with trained medical staff at Manston.”
At one point as many as 4,000 people were being detained at the site, which is designed to hold just 1,600. This number later dropped to within capacity.
Asylum seekers are meant to be at Manston for only short periods of time while undergoing security and identity checks, before being moved to the Home Office’s asylum accommodation.
Some people have been held for longer periods due to a lack of alternative accommodation, with concerns raised over poor conditions.
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said there will need to be a “full investigation” into the incident.
The Labour MP said: “We send deepest condolences to the family of the man who has died after staying at Manston.
“There will need to be a full investigation into what has happened in this tragic case.”
