Thirteen men who were arrested following a fire at the army barracks being used to house asylum seekers have now been released without charge.

Police confirmed the update today, nearly six weeks after the blaze broke out at Napier Barracks in Folkestone.

In total, 14 people were arrested after the fire, which caused a significant amount of damage to the site and is understood to have been started deliberately.

One of these suspects, 31-year-old Mohammed Ali, was charged with assault by beating, using or threatening unlawful violence and criminal damage.

He appeared at Canterbury Crown Court earlier this month, and pleaded not guilty.

He will now face a trial, which is due to start on August 31.

But the other 13 men will face no charges.

The fire at Napier Barracks - which is owned by the Ministry of Defence but is being used by the Home office to accommodate men seeking asylum in the UK - was just one of many incidents at the site over the last few months.

Protests, including one where fake blood was thrown at the gates, hunger strikes and a Covid-19 outbreak have also resulted in increased tension.

Some service users have since been moved out of the barracks to make social distancing easier.

A damning report from the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI) which was published earlier this week, revealed the true state of the living quarters.

Photos showed mattresses on the floor and white sheets dividing other beds, while another room, described as an isolation room, shows damaged brickwork and peeling paint. It was described as "unfit for habitation" by the ICIBI.

In the report, the environment at Napier was described as "impoverished, run-down and unsuitable for long-term accommodation".

The report also raised "serious safeguarding concerns", and said a third of residents had felt suicidal.

Read more: All the latest news from Folkestone