Arabic version: وفاة رجل أثناء احتجازه في مركز الاستقبال بهوبارت

According to ABC News, a 23-year-old man has died while being held at the Hobart Reception Centre. Tasmania Police said prison staff found the New Norfolk man unresponsive in his cell just before 11am on Sunday.

Police said the man had been arrested on Saturday in connection with a wounding incident in Claremont the previous day. He was transferred to the Hobart Reception Centre at about 5:30pm, and had spent one night in custody before he was found unresponsive.

Tasmania Police Assistant Commissioner Doug Oosterloo said Ambulance Tasmania crews, Hobart uniform police and reception prison staff attempted to revive the man, but the efforts were unsuccessful. Forensic specialists, detectives from Tasmania Police’s professional standards unit and the coroner attended the scene, he said.

Police are investigating the death and a professional standards investigation is examining CCTV footage at Hobart Reception Centre, records and witness accounts, Assistant Commissioner Oosterloo said. Acting Director of Prisons Tristan Bell said the Tasmania Prison Service would not comment further because the matter had been referred to the coroner, and extended condolences to the man’s family and friends.

Police said the Claremont incident occurred at a Curlew Parade home at about 5am on Friday and was believed to have been targeted. Two people were reported to have entered the residence and assaulted two occupants. A man in his 20s was shot in the hip and remained in hospital in a serious condition, while a woman in her 20s received medical treatment after reportedly being struck with the side of an axe. Police did not confirm what role, if any, the deceased man was alleged to have had in that incident.