Posted April 20, 2017 15:29:41

Photo: Detainees said at least 100 rounds were fired during Friday's incident. (Supplied)

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has revealed a violent incident at the Manus Island immigration centre on Friday may have been prompted by concerns for a child.

Papua New Guinea Defence Force personnel allegedly fired shots into the centre after a fight with asylum seekers.

Mr Dutton told Sky News today that the mood on the island had been tense following an alleged incident "where three asylum seekers were alleged to be leading a local five-year-old boy back toward the facility".

"There was concern about why the boy was being led or for what purpose he was being led away back in the regional processing centre," Mr Dutton said.

"I think it's fair to say the mood had elevated quite quickly. I think some of the local residents were quite angry about this particular incident and another alleged sexual assault."

The attack by alleged PNG Defence Force members on the Manus Island detention centre follows increasing friction between asylum seekers and locals, and many fear worse violence is yet to come.

Further comment has been sought from the Minister.

PNG authorities are investigating the shooting, during which one man was injured by a rock thrown into the centre.

A statement from the PNG Defence Force alleged that an officer was assaulted by an asylum seeker, "which led to an escalation of the confrontation".

"Rocks were allegedly thrown by the asylum seekers and shots fired by the members of the Naval base," it read.

"Few people [were] treated for minor injuries."

A statement from PNG Police alleged that the soldiers involved were drunk.

Neither statement referenced a child.

Photo: In April, the PNG Supreme Court had found the men's detention on the island was illegal. (Reuters)

Detainees sent photos from within the centre showing bullets and bullet damage to their accommodation.

They said at least 100 rounds were fired during the incident.

The incident comes more than three years after Iranian asylum seeker Reza Barati was killed when guards and local people responded to a protest in February 2014.

Manus Island MP Ron Knight detailed the incident on social media, tweeting that "things like this happen" in PNG.

Tensions on the island have been high in recent weeks amid uncertainty over a resettlement deal with the US Government.

Officials from the US Department of Homeland Security have been on Manus Island fingerprinting and photographing refugees and are expected to return next month to conduct security interviews.

The ABC understands that roughly 600 men on Manus Island may be eligible for resettlement, with about half having had first interviews in December and January.

Topics: immigration, government-and-politics, papua-new-guinea