Chaos as migrants protest violently at RAF base on Cyprus

Groups of migrants who want to leave RAF facilities are seen protesting in apparent anger at the conditions there.

A total of 11 migrants, most of them from Syria, landed on the island last month at the nearby RAF Akrotiri, including 28 children.

One man is seen in the footage obtained by The Guardian, shouting “we are people, not animals!” while another is captured seemingly threatening to hang himself.

Pictures passed to the newspaper show a number of tents at the base on fire.

14 of the 114 migrants being held in a transit facility in Cyprus have now been moved into accommodation in Cyprus. Read the latest statement below.

A Government spokesperson said:

“We can confirm that 14 migrants have been moved to accommodation in the Republic of Cyprus today. The move was conducted with the assistance of the Cypriot Authorities, who will now support these migrants on behalf of the Sovereign Base Area Administration. Those who have been moved include a number who have claimed asylum, as well as those deemed to be vulnerable. We will continue to work with the Republic of Cyprus to provide support and accommodation to those who are yet to claim asylum. Their options for either claiming asylum or being repatriated are being discussed with them and they all have access to advice from the UNHRC regarding these options.”

It was the first time that refugees have landed directly on what is considered British sovereign soil. little is currently known about their journey to the base or their country of origin.

RAF Akrotiri is used to launch British air strikes against Islamic State fighters in Iraq. Akrotiri has also played a crucial role during Britain’s other recent operations in the Middle East. During both major campaigns against Iraq in 1991 and 2003 and also during the no-fly zone operations between, it operated as a staging post for British forces en route to the region.

Akrotiri is also the winter training grounds of the RAF display team, the Red Arrows.

A Sky News source on the island said the vessels were apparently able to reach the shoreline unchallenged .

“As we reflect on the landing of these refugees, we must also reflect on how the UK has allowed three to four boats, with up to 180 people, to land undetected and unchallenged within the perimeter of it primary military base from which it launches operations in Syria? What if the landing had been of a smaller scale and by members of IS, seeking to attack?”

There has been extensive coverage this morning of a number of boats containing migrants landing on the shore of RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.

An MoD spokesperson said:

“We can confirm that a number of boats with migrants on board have landed on the shore of RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. At the moment our key priority is ensuring everybody on board is safe and well and when we can release further details we will.

We have had an agreement in place with the Republic of Cyprus since 2003 to ensure that the Cypriot authorities take responsibility in circumstances like this.

Events like this underline why it is important for us to develop a comprehensive approach to the migration crisis working with our international partners to provide humanitarian assistance in Syria and neighbouring countries; to disrupt the trafficking gangs and to address the root causes of instability that cause people to seek a new life elsewhere.”

The MoD says Cypriot authorities will take responsibility for the migrants on the vessels that landed at RAF Akrotiri.