The fire started on Friday at Napier Barracks, a disused military complex that now houses asylum seekers and is at the center of a recent dispute between Interior Secretary Priti Patel and refugee charities that have asked her to close installations.
Charities say that some 400 asylum seekers at the facility live in precarious conditions in overcrowded dormitories and that a recent Covid-19 outbreak has infected at least 120 people, PA Media reported.
Kent police said on Saturday that investigations into the incident continue and that “no serious injuries were reported as a result of the incident, however, a significant amount of damage was caused to part of the site after a fire – which is believed to be have been started deliberately. “
On Friday, the Interior Minister accessed Twitter to condemn the “shocking scenes” at Napier Barracks, where the Interior Ministry said windows were broken and a building was set on fire.
“The damage and destruction at Napier Barracks is not only terrible, but deeply offensive to taxpayers in this country, who are offering accommodation while asylum applications are being processed,” tweeted Patel.
“This place has already accommodated our brave soldiers and soldiers – it is an insult to say that it is not good enough for these individuals,” she added.
Patel’s comments sparked some criticism, with the founder of a refugee charity saying that the interior minister “should be ashamed of herself” for so quickly pointing the finger at asylum seekers.
“For a British Interior Minister to accuse and punish ordinary people when the facts of this incident are not yet known, it is shocking and disturbing,” said Clare Mosley, founder of the charity Care4Calais, in a statement sent to CNN.
“This is not just a careless and improvised emotional response. It is a deceptive and opportunistic smoke screen, designed to divert attention from the various warnings she received about what was clearly going to happen in the Napier barracks,” added Mosley.
Care4Calais, in a Facebook post on Friday, said the Napier residents they spoke to “tell us that they are simply terrified”.
“His future remains uncertain and today’s events create more anguish and fear,” he added.