Man was stabbed in shoulders, back and neck after he refused to hand over phone to three men

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

An Afghan refugee on Manus Island has been stabbed repeatedly with a screwdriver in a violent robbery in the island’s main town.

The Afghan man – held by Australia in its offshore processing regime on Manus – was assaulted at about 6pm on Sunday, when he was confronted near the Harbourside hotel by three men who demanded he hand over his phone. When he refused, they stabbed him repeatedly in the shoulders, back and neck with a screwdriver.

He was taken by other refugees to Lorengau hospital, where he was treated.

The Iranian refugee and journalist Behrouz Boochani posted pictures online of the injured man.

Behrouz Boochani (@BehrouzBoochani) This refugee was beaten up by someone in Lorengau town yesterday. This is what the Australian Government is doing on Manus Island. I don’t know if police are aware, I will follow up on this issue.#Manus pic.twitter.com/ELGwACSIke

“This refugee was beaten up by someone in Lorengau town yesterday. This is what the Australian government is doing on Manus Island,” Boochani said. “Keeping 600 men in a small town makes many problems.

“These are problems created by Australia and PNG. The situation in Manus is very complicated. It creates many problems for refugees and locals. The Australian government is causing harm and knows it.”

Boochani spoke with the man, who is convalescing at the East Lorengau Refugee Transit Centre. There are no plans to move him from the island. The man does not want to comment or be identified for fear of reprisals.

The attack has been reported to police. No arrests have been made.

The presence of about 600 single men refugees and asylum seekers in the small township of Lorengau on Manus Island has been the source of ongoing, and increasing tension.

While many locals are sympathetic to the refugees’ situation and supportive of the men, others are openly hostile, and attacks on refugees have been common.

Civic leaders have been warning for months that the imposition of more a large cohort of single men within the conservative, tight-knit and familial community of Lorengau will prove disastrous.