18 Feb 2014

Asylum seeker killed amid unrest at Canberra's PNG camp

4:18 pm on 18 February 2014

Australia's immigration minister has confirmed that one of Canberra's asylum seekers sent to Papua New Guinea has been killed.

The person, whose nationality has not been disclosed, died on the way to hospital after suffering a head injury during a second night of rioting and fighting at the camp on Manus Island.

Scott Morrison says 77 people received treatment following the riot, 22 people suffered minor injuries, 13 suffered serious injuries and the one was in a critical condition.

One of the injured has been flown to Australia for treatment and another one will follow.

There have been unconfirmed reports of Papua New Guinea police and civilians assaulting the asylum seekers, whose camp was reopened in 2012 when Australia revived its policy of processing them abroad.

The reports say no Australian security personnel were at the camp when the assault took place and Mr Morrison says all Australian staff are accounted for.

There are no reports of arrests of the perpetrators of the violence.

Australia has also said that asylum applicants found to be refugees who had arrived by boat will be settled outside Australia.

Mr Morrison has also confirmed that Australia has sent a group of unaccompanied children to Australia's detention centre on Nauru.