The man was found dead at the Dungavel centre

The Home Office confirmed that there was a death on Friday night, but refused to give any further details.

It is understood that the death at the Lanarkshire centre is not being treated as suspicious.

Human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar claimed that the man had committed suicide after he was moved from a centre in west London following a riot.

There was a disturbance at Harmondsworth earlier this month after a 31-year-old detainee was found hanged.

This is another reason why Dungavel should be shut down Aamer Anwar Human rights lawyer

Mr Anwar said the man who died at Dungavel had been moved north following the incident.

"This just shows how barbaric the whole system is, that a young man has taken his own life," he said.

"These people have committed no crime apart from being a foreigner."

The lawyer said it was "outrageous" that asylum seekers were being held in detention centres rather than being offered help by the authorities.

"This is another reason why Dungavel should be shut down. They should open the doors and let the people out," he added.

Home Secretary David Blunkett said conditions at Dungavel were "entirely satisfactory" following a visit earlier this month.