Valetta, Malta  - Police and military clashed Friday with migrants at two detention centres in Malta, officials said.

The rioting broke out after an illegal immigrant fell from a window at one of the detention centres.

The man was taken to hospital where his condition was not immediately known.

As news of the incident spread, detainees at another centre also rampaged, the officials of the Mediterranean island-state said.

Firefighters intervened to put out a blaze allegedly started by the rioters in one of the centre's dormitories.

A Eurobarometer survey released Thursday showed that illegal immigration is the biggest concern among the country's 400,000 inhabitants.

A recent surge of arrivals from North Africa has further fuelled tensions on densely populated Malta, where immigrant detention facilities are often overcrowded. (dpa)