Durban anti-migrant protest turns violent

An anti-migrant protest in Durban, South Africa, turned violent on Thursday, with police reporting one arrest and a community leader saying five Congolese nationals were hurt.

Police said about 100 marchers from an anti-illegal migrant group moved against an encampment of several hundred foreign nationals outside a government office. Many of the foreigners are from the Democratic Republic of Congo and moved to the site 13 weeks ago seeking protection from mobs campaigning against undocumented migrants.

Police said stones were thrown during the commotion and that one thrown by a foreign national hit a police officer. They said the person was arrested, without giving further details.

Bishop Raphael, a leader of the group of foreigners and a Congolese national, told AFP that five Congolese people, including two children, were hurt. He said protesters armed with sticks tried to attack the encampment while police attempted to separate the groups.

Raphael said police used stun grenades to disperse the crowds, resulting in the injuries.

Durban has been at the centre of weeks of action against irregular migration. At least four foreign nationals have been killed in that violence, according to South African police. More than 200,000 people have fled South Africa, according to an AFP tally based on figures released by African governments that have repatriated their nationals.