On Sunday 22nd of June a fire raged in a detention centre for sans papiers, undocumented migrants, in Vincennes in Paris. Eighteen people are in hospital after they were inhaling smoke. It seems the fire broke out after inmates protested against the medical treatment in this prison. A Tunesian man of 41 had died the day before. According to the police he suffered a heart attack. There are 140 places in this prison, but in reality there are 260-270 people locked up. The two buildings have been destroyed completely. Most of the inmates were transferred to a nearby police academy. We have no news about escapees…
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The network for education on borders, RESF, says that the fire was to be expected.The ruling party UMP has accused RESF of provoking the fire. Some 30 people held a demonstration of solidairity in front of the prison. The UMP says RESF should be charged with inciting the fire.

CIMADE, the comittee for aid to refugees, has warned several times that the prisons are too crowded and too violent. CIMADE people regularly visit these prisons. They demand that all detained migrants should be released.(Liberation)