The death of a man detained in Villawood Immigration Detention Centre on Saturday has been referred for investigation, the Australian Border Force says.
According to activist group the Refugee Action Coalition, an Iranian asylum seeker was found dead in his room in a compound of the detention centre in NSW at around 1.00pm on Saturday.
RAC said the man was aged in his late 30s and had been detained in Villawood for two years.
The Australian Border Force (ABF) confirmed that "a male detainee has passed away at Villawood Immigration Detention Centre".
The ABF said the matter had "been referred for investigation to the appropriate agencies, including the NSW Coroner".
"We express our condolences to the man’s family and friends," the ABF said in a statement to SBS News on Saturday evening.
"The priority for the ABF is the health and safety of detainees and staff in all circumstances ... As this matter will be subject to ongoing investigation, it would not be appropriate to comment further."
