Reza Berati

Killed in detention: Reza Berati. Photo: Facebook



A PNG local employed by the Salvation Army has been accused

of being a key assailant in the attack that resulted in the death of

Iranian asylum seeker Reza Barati, according to staff employed at the

Manus Island detention centre.

''Everyone knows who attacked him and is surprised no one has

been taken into custody,'' a well-placed source told Fairfax Media. A

spokesman for the Papua New Guinea police confirmed on Sunday that no

one has been taken into custody following the death of Mr Barati a

fortnight ago.



The Salvation Army denies the allegation.



Sources on Manus Island said cleaning staff had scrubbed

clean the detention centre - including the area where Mr Barati died -

the morning after the fatal violence of February 17. There are concerns
this could compromise the investigation into his 





Bullet casings and bullet holes at person-height in the centre walls were also found, staff who work at the centre sa


It appears the attack that resulted in Mr Barati's death, and

injuries to more than 60 asylum seekers, was an orchestrated response

to a rolling protest that involved asylum seekers chanting ''F--- PNG''
and baring their buttoc


An account pieced together from interviews with staff asserts

that the lights were turned off in the area where the asylum seekers

were injured shortly before local police and locals employed by security

contractor G4S and the Salvation Army entered the centre.

The account of Mr Barati's death is consistent with the one

related by relatives who have spoken with a cousin who witnessed the

attack.

It says Mr Barati was in the computer room when the violence

began, made a return to what he hoped would be safety in his room, then

was attacked - allegedly by a local employed by the Salvation Army. Mr

Barati died after repeated blows to the head, most likely by a piece of

timber, a PNG autopsy found last week.