TWO detainees at Campsfield House Detention Centre were taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital after a disturbance broke out when an officer allegedly stood on a Muslim prayer mat.

Group 4 officers had to quell a mini-uprising from about 10.15pm on Sunday to 1am yesterday after the man was accused of treading on the mat in the prayer room.

A Home Office spokesman said one of the men suffered a broken finger and the other sustained a cut finger during the incident, which is now being investigated.

She said: "All we know at this stage is that there was an alleged misunderstanding. There was one man in the prayer room and the officer was trying to close it at a late hour. While he was doing so he was accused of stepping on the mat.

"An apology was offered by the officer and although it was initially accepted by the detainees, a disturbance happened in which physical violence was directed at Group 4 officers."

The spokesman added one man, believed to be an Algerian in his 20s, suffered a fit. The two injured men suffered their wounds while trying to restrain him and he was later treated by a doctor but not taken to hospital. A detainee at the centre, who refused to give his name, said: "He wasn't very well anyway and collapsed after he got involved.

"We said he should go to hospital but they wouldn't take him. He shouldn't be here.

"The Muslims were incensed, everyone wanted to go to war. The officer didn't apologise, or didn't give what you would call an apology."

Eight men appeared at Oxford Crown Court yesterday accused of being involved in the Campsfield riots last year.

Stanley Nwadike, 22, John Quaquah, 32, Harrison Tubman, 19, Lucky Agbebaku, 28, Edward Onabanjo Agora, 26, Sunny Ozidede, 29, Enahoro Joel Esemuze, 26, and a 17-year-old who cannot be named are all charged with riot and violent disorder. They denied the charges. A ninth man did not appear.

Onabanjo Agora was bailed to live at Brenthouse Road, Homerton, Hackney. The others were remanded in custody.

The men will appear again at Oxford Crown Court on March 9 and the trial is due to start on June 1. Helvetica 36 heading

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