A major disturbance unfolded at Harmondsworth detention centre as a power cut caused chaos and riot police descended on the scene.
Over 100 detainees reportedly broke into the courtyard of the centre, close to Heathrow Airport, at around 2am, with some reportedly armed with knives and bits of wood.
Staff were moved from the area after threats of violence as the chaos was triggered by a power cut earlier in the night and there were reports of fires being set at the centre.
Riot police were supported by a helicopter to try and restore order as efforts were made to get power back online.
It is understood that the situation is under control and order has now been restored after it peaked around 2am.
There have been no arrests or injuries.
The BBC reported that those involved had 'various weaponry' and that power was still out at 9am this morning.
The Guardian said that the incident was a staged protest over the power cut which stretched back over 24 hours to midnight Thursday.
They added that around one hundred people had been due to be moved from the centre to make way for new arrivals from the troubled and overcrowded centre at Manston - but that this has since been put on hold.
This comes after a week of chaos across the country's immigration system that saw minister Robert Jenrick admit that the controversy-hit Manston immigration facility in Kent held an estimated 3,500 people inside, despite it having a capacity of 1,600.
Photos have revealed the horror inside the centre where people were captured reaching out desperately for help, sleeping on the floor, with hungry and cold children sharing blankets as the centre faces severe overcrowding.
Then, on Tuesday night, the Home Office abandoned a group of cold and hungry asylum seekers in central London, leaving some wearing flip flops in pouring rain.
Minister for Immigration Robert Jenrick said: There was disruption overnight at Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre after a loss of power. Thankfully no staff working or individuals detained there were hurt, despite clear evidence of unacceptable levels of violence and disorder. The priority now is to move people to other centres while engineers fix the power fault and repair any damage.
“The public should be reassured that offenders and others waiting removal from the UK are being held securely. The perpetrators of this disturbance will be held to account and, where appropriate, removed from the country as swiftly as is practicable.
“The Home Secretary and I have been kept abreast of events throughout the night and today by our hard-working teams. I have also visited the site today and I expect the centre to be empty by the end of the day. I am grateful to Home Office staff, contractors and officers from HMPPS and the Metropolitan police for their professionalism and practical support.”
