Gunfire Erupts Near Australian Pacific Island Refugee Camp

(Bloomberg) -- Papua New Guinea authorities are investigating an incident involving residents and military personnel that involved gunfire near the Manus Island detention center, according to an Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection spokeswoman.

As many as 100 shots were fired near the center, Australian Broadcasting Corp. tweeted late Friday night. There were reports that a member of the Papua New Guinea military had discharged a weapon into the air, the department’s spokeswoman said. One resident was injured by a rock thrown during the incident and received medical treatment, the spokeswoman said.

About 860 people are being detained on Manus Island under an Australian government plan to end people smuggling, a policy that has been condemned by human rights groups. Australian authorities came to agreement with the administration of former President Barack Obama to resettle some asylum seekers in the U.S. in a deal President Donald Trump earlier this year described as ‘dumb.’

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence is scheduled to visit Australia later this month and is unlikely to raise any new objections to the deal, Australian Associated Press reported.

To contact the reporter on this story: Tim Smith in Sydney at tsmith58@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Divya Balji at dbalji1@bloomberg.net, Stanley James, Tim Smith