KUALA LUMPUR, April 20 — A protest by some 650 Rohingya detainees at a Kedah immigration detention centre in Relau, Bandar Baharu early this morning escalated into a riot that ended with 10 people dead, The Star reported on its website.

The daily cited an unnamed source saying the protest began at 5am today and quickly saw 500 of the detainees attempting to escape the centre.

Police were deployed to control the situation and 229 detainees were later brought back, The Star cited the insider as saying.

Ten of the detainees reportedly died after being hit by cars on the road while fleeing.

According to the news report, most of the Rohingya detainees were rounded up in previous operations by various agencies in Langkawi.

The Star added that the authorities have yet to comment officially on this incident.