SA: Asylum seekers questioned by police about Baxter fires

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SA: Asylum seekers questioned by police about Baxter fires

Asylum seekers are being questioned by police about a spate of deliberately lit fireswhich caused more than $2.25 million worth of damage at Australia's newest detention centre.

The government's warned detainees who started fires overnight and today at the Baxtercentre in South Australia that they'll face the full force of the law.

Up to five separate fires were deliberately lit at about midnight (CDT) in a compoundat the detention centre on the outskirts of Port Augusta.

The Immigration Department says the fires forced detainees to be evacuated into anothercompound -- which this afternoon was set ablaze by another deliberately lit fire.

The afternoon fire caused about $250,000 damage with at least two buildings destroyed,while the overnight fires caused about $2 million worth of damage.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner MICK KEELTY says six investigators and a forensicsexaminer have been sent to Baxter, which opened in September.

Mr KEELTY says detainees are currently being questioned.

AAP RTV sl/smb

KEYWORD: DETENTION FIRE (ADELAIDE)