A man threw petrol bombs at a new British immigration border force centre before killing himself, a witness has claimed.
The attacker, a white man in a shirt, drove up to Western Jet Foil in Dover, Kent in a white SEAT sports utility vehicle.
He threw three petrol bombs with fireworks attached, one of which did not go off, said a Reuters photographer who was present at the scene.
The petrol bombs exploded as flames erupted and the man drove away from the scene.
A local MP later said the individual had committed suicide.
One minor injury was reported and the suspect has been identified and located. Police were unable to confirm reports that the suspect had died and said inquiries are ongoing.
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Footage shared on social media had captured a fire at the processing centre and a nearby petrol station.
Orange flames and thick black smoke could be seen billowing outside the centre as staff walked nearby.
Images of a white car, said to belong to the attacker, have also been released.
One witness told Kent Online: "I heard what I thought was cannons going off and thought it must have been an event. We paused the TV to hear. There were at least six or seven.
“To think it was actually explosions that we heard is just so upsetting. I really hope no one is hurt.”
And a stunned worker at the petrol station said: “I swapped shifts with the two people who were on at the time. They just wanted to get home. They looked really upset.
“When I came in to work I didn’t want to look at it. I wouldn’t have slept for days.”
Police cordoned off the area today as detectives examined the scene. Fire crews and an army bomb disposal team were also called to the centre which processes migrants arriving at the port.
Two forensics officers in white boiler suits could be seen searching the forecourt of the garage, including the grit bins and the home fuel display.
Army bomb disposal units were seen inspecting a car at a garage in Dover following the incident at the migrant processing centre.
The vehicle, which is parked by the rear car wash, has been covered with blue tarpaulin.
A bomb disposal pick-up truck was also spotted at the petrol station - with two Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) experts seen examining the SUV.
The road leading to the immigration centre has also been cordoned off.
The incident comes after Government figures showed that almost 1,000 migrants arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel on Saturday.
Nearly 40,000 have arrived in the UK so far this year after attempting the treacherous trip from France, crossing the world's busiest shipping lanes in dinghies and other small boats, provisional figures show.
It is the highest number of arrivals in one day for a number of weeks, with more crossings taking place on Sunday morning.
The highest number in a single day was set on August 22 when 1,295 people arrived in the country.
A Home Office spokesperson said: "We are aware of an incident at Western Jet Foil, Dover and police are in attendance. It would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage."
Kent Police said in a statement: "Kent Police was called at 11.22am on Sunday 30 October 2022 to The Viaduct in Dover.
"Officers established that two to three incendiary devices had been thrown into a Home Office immigration premises. One minor injury has been reported.
"The suspect has been identified and located. Enquiries into the incident remain ongoing."
Natalie Elphicke, the Conservative MP for Dover, said she was "deeply shocked".
She tweeted: "I am deeply shocked by the incident in Dover today. I have spoken to the immigration minister about the situation. My thoughts are with everyone involved."
She later told LBC radio: "I understand that the Dover immigration centre that is at the Port of Dover was firebombed with a number of devices, before an individual then committed suicide."
She said the motivation of the perpetrator is so far unknown, but the centre is "a well-known facility" where small boats arrive before people are taken to the Manston asylum processing centre in Kent.
"It's an absolutely dreadful situation that we have now at Dover," she added.
"I understand that all the people who are at the centre are being looked after and precautions are being made for their safety."
Ms Elphicke also said: "I think it is fair to say that tensions have been running high over the last period.
"And indeed, I'd raised my concerns about that with the immigration minister earlier this week."
Immigration minister Robert Jenrick tweeted: "I am being kept regularly updated by the police.
"My sympathies are with those involved and my thanks and admiration are with Kent Police and Border Force officers as they go about their essential work to keep us safe."
Mr Jenrick will visit both Dover and the Manston processing centre to "take charge of the situation", Ms Elphicke said.
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