A man threw petrol bombs attached with fireworks at a new Border Force immigration centre in Dover, police have confirmed, adding the suspect was found deceased nearby. The attacker, a white man in a blue-and-white gingham shirt, drove up to the centre in a white Seat sports utility vehicle. He threw three petrol bombs, one of which did not go off, according to a photographer for Reuters. The suspect was identified and located at a nearby petrol station where he was confirmed dead, police said. One minor injury was reported. A photograph of the incident showed a man releasing a plastic bottle taped to a lit firework as he drove away. The suspected attacker had been “identified and located”, police added, confirming reports that the suspect had died while saying inquiries were ongoing. In a statement, Kent police said: “Officers established that two to three incendiary devices had been thrown outside and into the premises by a single suspect who arrived at the scene in a car. “Two people have reported minor injuries from inside the property. The suspect was identified, and very quickly located at a nearby petrol station, and confirmed deceased. “A further device was found and confirmed safe within the suspect’s vehicle. “The site remained open, however around 700 suspected migrants were relocated to Manston to ensure safety during the initial phase of the police investigation.” Police arrived minutes afterwards and cordoned off the area. Video of the aftermath of the incident showed staff putting out a small fire on the centre’s exterior wall. The apparent attack occurred at an immigration centre compound on the Dover harbour side. The compound is where people who have crossed the Channel in small boats are taken by Border Force officials. It came after almost 1,000 people arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel on Saturday. A Home Office spokesperson said: “We are aware of an incident at Western Jet Foil, Dover, and police are in attendance. It would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage.” A spokesperson for Kent fire and rescue said: “Kent fire and rescue service was called to an incident in Dover at 11:24, where crews put out fires.” The Metropolitan police said its counter-terrorism officers were not involved in the investigation. The incident has prompted a call for politicians to stop using anti-immigrant rhetoric. Clare Moseley, the founder of the campaign Care4Calais, said she was concerned recent rhetoric by ministers may have been a factor in the attack. She said: “We are seeing an escalation in hate on social mediaand threats against our volunteers. The rhetoric from this government’s ministers is shocking and divisive. They call refugees in Calais ‘illegal immigrants’ despite extensive evidence they are genuine refugees in desperate need of help.” Moseley said Sunday’s incident was reminder that hate speech could have deadly consequences. She said: “It would be kinder and more effective to simply help people rather than continue this damaging campaign that tears the fabric of our society and leads to events such as these.” Natalie Elphicke, the Conservative MP for Dover, said people at the Border Force immigration centre were being “looked after” following the “dreadful” attack. She told LBC radio: “I understand that the Dover immigration centre that is at the Port of Dover was firebombed with the number of devices before an individual then committed suicide.” She said the motivation was unknown, but the centre was “a well-known facility” where small boats arrived. “It’s an absolutely dreadful situation that we have now at Dover,” she added. “I understand that all the people who are at the centre are being looked after and precautions are being made for their safety.”