Voices from Manus: 'We are in danger. Somebody please help us'

Asylum seekers claim they were attacked inside the compound, contradicting government accounts of two bloody days

A conflicting picture of violence at the Manus detention centre is emerging. Photograph: EPA

Oliver Laughland-Tuesday 18 February 2014 

At 10.29pm local time on Monday, an asylum seeker inside Manus Island detention centre sent this message to Guardian Australia: “We are in danger. They attacked us again. Somebody please help us. They cut off the electricity and attacked us.”

Australian immigration minister announces independent inquiry into Manus Island violence

Scott Morrison says there are reports that Papua New Guinea police fired shots twice during Monday’s disturbances

Scott Morrison at his press conference in Canberra on Tuesday. Photograph: Parlview

Paul Farrell-Tuesday 18 February 2014

An independent review will investigate disturbances in Australia’s detention centre on Manus Island in which a man died and dozens of people were injured, the immigration minister said.

Voices From Manus 'We Are in Danger. Somebody Please Help Us' by Thavam Ratna