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Migrants arrive in Austria after Hungary provides buses | Migrants arrive in Austria after Hungary provides buses |
(35 minutes later) | |
Thousands of migrants have crossed into Austria, after Hungary's surprise move to take them by bus to the border. | Thousands of migrants have crossed into Austria, after Hungary's surprise move to take them by bus to the border. |
For days the government had blocked them from travelling by train, but it relented after many began walking towards the border on Friday. | For days the government had blocked them from travelling by train, but it relented after many began walking towards the border on Friday. |
About 4,000 people arrived in Austria, with many moving on to Germany. Meanwhile a second group has set off on foot from Budapest towards the border. | About 4,000 people arrived in Austria, with many moving on to Germany. Meanwhile a second group has set off on foot from Budapest towards the border. |
Austria says the migrants can apply for asylum there or carry on to Germany. | Austria says the migrants can apply for asylum there or carry on to Germany. |
The move comes as European Union countries are struggling to agree on how to deal with a surge of asylum seekers - many of whom have fled conflict in Syria. | The move comes as European Union countries are struggling to agree on how to deal with a surge of asylum seekers - many of whom have fled conflict in Syria. |
Follow our live updates | Follow our live updates |
Hungary's government eased restrictions on transit after many frustrated migrants overwhelmed police cordons. | Hungary's government eased restrictions on transit after many frustrated migrants overwhelmed police cordons. |
Overnight, buses picked up migrants from Keleti station in Budapest where thousands had been camped. | Overnight, buses picked up migrants from Keleti station in Budapest where thousands had been camped. |
Vehicles were also sent to take those who had decided to walk along a motorway to Austria. | Vehicles were also sent to take those who had decided to walk along a motorway to Austria. |
On Saturday Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs told the BBC there would be no more buses or trains to take the migrants on to Austria. | On Saturday Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs told the BBC there would be no more buses or trains to take the migrants on to Austria. |
He said the transport had been arranged as a one-off, because of fears for the migrants' safety. | He said the transport had been arranged as a one-off, because of fears for the migrants' safety. |
But the BBC's Ben Brown reports from Budapest that the government's move seems to have encouraged migrants who later streamed into the station. | But the BBC's Ben Brown reports from Budapest that the government's move seems to have encouraged migrants who later streamed into the station. |
The second group of about 1,000 migrants is now on its way to the border. | The second group of about 1,000 migrants is now on its way to the border. |
As thousands crossed the border on foot, some Austrians displayed welcome signs. | As thousands crossed the border on foot, some Austrians displayed welcome signs. |
Austrian Red Cross workers at a makeshift centre greeted the migrants with blankets and tea. | Austrian Red Cross workers at a makeshift centre greeted the migrants with blankets and tea. |
"I feel [at] home," said Ayaz Morad, one of the first to arrive. "This is a great land - nice people, nice government." | "I feel [at] home," said Ayaz Morad, one of the first to arrive. "This is a great land - nice people, nice government." |
The migrants were being taken to Vienna by bus and rail. Special trains to the capital are leaving the Austrian border town of Nickelsdorf every half hour. | The migrants were being taken to Vienna by bus and rail. Special trains to the capital are leaving the Austrian border town of Nickelsdorf every half hour. |
Many immediately boarded trains for Germany. Several hundred arrived at Munich station later on Saturday. | Many immediately boarded trains for Germany. Several hundred arrived at Munich station later on Saturday. |
The German government has said anyone coming from Syria can apply for asylum. It expects about 6,000 people to arrive over the weekend. | The German government has said anyone coming from Syria can apply for asylum. It expects about 6,000 people to arrive over the weekend. |
'Exhausted, but smiling': Bethany Bell, BBC News, Austrian-Hungarian border | 'Exhausted, but smiling': Bethany Bell, BBC News, Austrian-Hungarian border |
They crossed into Austria on foot - the Hungarian buses stopped before reaching the border and they had to walk the final stretch. | They crossed into Austria on foot - the Hungarian buses stopped before reaching the border and they had to walk the final stretch. |
There were children and at least one man in a wheelchair. | There were children and at least one man in a wheelchair. |
They were exhausted. Some of them were limping, but many were smiling broadly - relieved to have finally left Hungary. | They were exhausted. Some of them were limping, but many were smiling broadly - relieved to have finally left Hungary. |
"Where are we?" one man shouted. "Austria," I replied. "Good," he said. | "Where are we?" one man shouted. "Austria," I replied. "Good," he said. |
Germany has said it expects to take in 800,000 asylum seekers this year. | Germany has said it expects to take in 800,000 asylum seekers this year. |
Austria's Chancellor Werner Faymann said that after talks with his German counterpart Angela Merkel, they would allow in the migrants. | Austria's Chancellor Werner Faymann said that after talks with his German counterpart Angela Merkel, they would allow in the migrants. |
But he said he expected Hungary to respect any EU quotas for asylum seekers - something Hungary, along with the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia, has rejected. | But he said he expected Hungary to respect any EU quotas for asylum seekers - something Hungary, along with the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia, has rejected. |
Hungary, a major transit point for those fleeing the Middle East and Africa, has taken measures that have underlined divisions within the EU over ways to tackle the crisis. | |
The government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban is building a barbed-wire fence along the border with Serbia, where it also plans to deploy extras troops and police. | |
On Friday the Hungarian parliament approved tougher border controls and penalties for migrants. | |
On Saturday, EU foreign ministers discussed the crisis at a meeting in Luxembourg. | |
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said they had agreed to strengthen co-operation in five areas: | EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said they had agreed to strengthen co-operation in five areas: |
At the scene: Matthew Price, BBC News | At the scene: Matthew Price, BBC News |
Our correspondent has been walking with hundreds of migrants travelling on foot to Austria. | |
Are you among those trying to reach Austria? Have you been involved in these events? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience. | Are you among those trying to reach Austria? Have you been involved in these events? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |