Hundreds of migrants try to storm Greek border
They were among about 1,500 migrants who have been stranded near Greece’s northern border town of Idomeni after Europe decided to filter migrants, allowing only those fleeing conflict in Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq to cross into the Balkans.
Some threw stones at police while others fell to their knees shouting: “We want to go to Germany!”
A few ran across into Macedonia but were quickly detained by police.
Police in riot gear guarded a gap where migrants had torn down about 30m-40m of fence, and a Reuters photographer saw riot police armed with assault rifles.
More than 800,000 refugees and migrants from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia have arrived in Europe by sea so far this year, most through the Greek islands, seeking a better life in wealthier European countries such as Germany.
Balkan countries have clamped down at their borders recently to stem the largely unchecked stream of people, leaving tens of thousands stranded in Macedonia, Serbia, and Croatia.
The UN has condemned new restrictions on travel based on nationality.
So far, only 148 refugees have been relocated from Italy and Greece to other EU countries under a plan for transferring 160,000 agreed by EU leaders in September.
Meanwhile, an Austrian investigator has urged politicians and others who dismiss refugees as criminals or economic migrants to remember the 71 dead people abandoned in a meat truck on an Austrian motorway.
The discovery of the decomposing bodies in an airtight truck on August 27 shocked the world at a time when the biggest migrant wave since the Second World War was moving through Europe.
The migrant crisis has given a boost to anti-immigrant parties across the continent.
Speaking of the symbolic power of the case, Hans Peter Doskozil took aim at those seeking to demonise refugees who risk their lives to flee war and destruction.
“One must always keep in mind how these people feel and what pressure they are exposed to when one casually suspects them of criminality or says they are only economic migrants,” said Doskozil.
“I hope and I wish that this incident will stay in the minds of people and decision makers.”
Austria’s far-right and Islam-critical Freedom Party has seen its popularity soar since the summer, regularly scoring more than 30% in polls despite xenophobic gaffes by its representatives.
Investigators in the eastern city of Eisenstadt are turning the case over to Hungary, from where the truck entered Austria and which has arrested five men in a probe into trafficking.
Prosecutor Johann Fuchs described how the Iraqis, Afghans, Syrians, and Iranians died.“The people just sank down, dying. We could see no traces of a fight or of panic.”
