Unidentified Detainee Dies At Guantanamo Bay

(Newsroom America) -- An unidentified detainee at Guantanamo Bay died over the weekend after guards found the detainee unconscious and unresponsive.

The detention camp began operating following the 9/11 terror attacks.to hold suspected terrorists, particularly those linked to Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

Joint Task Force Guantanamo announced that the detainee died on Saturday afternoon but was not being named until the detainee's government and family had been notified.

"While conducting routine checks, Joint Task Force-Guantanamo guards found the detainee unconscious and unresponsive. The guards immediately performed first aid and summoned medical personnel to the scene.

"The corpsmen provided emergency medical treatment and quickly transported the detainee to Naval Hospital Guantanamo. After extensive lifesaving measures had been performed, the detainee was pronounced dead by a physician," the Joint Task Force said in a statement.

The remains of the deceased detainee are being treated with respect for Islamic culture and traditions, it said.

The remains will be autopsied by a medical examination team from the office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner. Upon completion of the autopsy, the remains will be prepared for repatriation.

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service has initiated an investigation of the incident to determine the cause and manner surrounding the death, which was standard procedure.

This weekend's death became the ninth since Guantanamo opened its doors in 2002, with the military reportedly saying two of the deaths were by natural causes and six were declared suicides.

As of September 2012, there were reportedly 167 detainees still at Guantanamo.