A RIOT that erupted at Wickham Point Wednesday afternoon has turned into a “standoff” between asylum seekers and Serco guards.

Reports from inside the compound are that at least 20 detainees started self harming after learning a family with a young child and a five-month pregnant woman were due to be sent to Nauru in the early hours of Thursday morning.

The riot, which was believed to be contained to the block that houses families, has now spread to involve all four compounds, according to reports from inside the centre.

On Tuesday, three asylum seekers attempted suicide, including the pregnant woman.

Darwin Asylum Seekers Support and Advocacy Network spokesman Ben Pynt said everyone was sitting outside protesting the move.

READ: ASYLUM SEEKER CLIMBS ON ROOF IN PROTEST

“They fear further abuse, they fear conditions of detention, lack of water, lack of privacy and just the poor environmental conditions as well and finally they don’t want to be at Nauru,” he said.

The fence, doors and rubbish bins have been damaged.

NT Police have sent members from the Metropolitan Patrol Group (MPG) and the Dog squad to the detention centre to deal with the issue.

Police can be seen patrolling the fence line and the road into Wickham Point has been blocked off.

Tensions have been building at Wickham Point following cuts to medical services, activities staff and more frequent transfers to offshore detention centres including Nauru and Manus Island.

Tuesday marked the third suicide attempt in three weeks for another woman who fears being sent back to Nauru.

Mr Pynt said he had spoken to the Department of Immigration regarding the woman’s mental health and recommended she be transferred to a mental health facility.

The woman is still at Wickham Point.

READ: BABY BORN IN DETENTION CENTRE

Also on Tuesday, an elderly woman suffered a suspected heart attack but because it happened after 5pm and the medical centre is longer staffed after hours she had to wait one hour for an ambulance to arrive.

The Department of Immigration and Border Control has not commented on the incident only to take to Twitter to say police were attending and that media reports of a riot were “incorrect” instead calling it a “disturbance”.

Lifeline provides all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to online, phone and face-to-face crisis support and suicide prevention services. Find out how these services can help you, a friend or loved one. Call 13 11 14.