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Migrants arrive in Austria from Hungary after border move | Migrants arrive in Austria from Hungary after border move |
(35 minutes later) | |
Thousands of migrants have arrived in Austria after Hungary's surprise move to provide buses for them. | |
For days, Hungary had blocked migrants from travelling by train to Western Europe, saying it was obliged to register them, sparking angry scenes. | For days, Hungary had blocked migrants from travelling by train to Western Europe, saying it was obliged to register them, sparking angry scenes. |
Austria says it has agreed with Germany to let the arrivals cross their borders. | Austria says it has agreed with Germany to let the arrivals cross their borders. |
It comes as European Union states are struggling to agree on how to deal with an unprecedented surge in migrants. | It comes as European Union states are struggling to agree on how to deal with an unprecedented surge in migrants. |
Buses began arriving at Keleti station, central Budapest, late on Friday, which has become a makeshift camp for thousands of migrants. | Buses began arriving at Keleti station, central Budapest, late on Friday, which has become a makeshift camp for thousands of migrants. |
Vehicles were also sent to collect hundreds who broke away from the camp to walk on foot along the main road to Austria. | Vehicles were also sent to collect hundreds who broke away from the camp to walk on foot along the main road to Austria. |
When the buses arrived to collect them, some of the migrants argued with officials, fearful they would be arrested rather than sent to Germany, the BBC's Matthew Price reported. | When the buses arrived to collect them, some of the migrants argued with officials, fearful they would be arrested rather than sent to Germany, the BBC's Matthew Price reported. |
But later, small groups began crossing the border, with some Austrians putting up welcome signs. | But later, small groups began crossing the border, with some Austrians putting up welcome signs. |
Austrian Red Cross workers at a makeshift centre greeted them with blankets and tea. Austrian police said up to 3,000 migrants had arrived by Saturday morning. | |
"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." |
Mohammad, a Syrian refugee, said he was happy to leave but warned other Syrians against travelling to Hungary because the situation there was "ugly". | Mohammad, a Syrian refugee, said he was happy to leave but warned other Syrians against travelling to Hungary because the situation there was "ugly". |
'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. |
Many of the migrants hope to travel on to Germany, which has said it expects to take in 800,000 people this year. | Many of the migrants hope to travel on to Germany, which has said it expects to take in 800,000 people this year. |
The Hungarian government said it had despatched the buses so that the country's transport network would not become "paralysed". | The Hungarian government said it had despatched the buses so that the country's transport network would not become "paralysed". |
Austria's Chancellor Werner Faymann said that after talks with his German counterpart Angela Merkel, the two countries would allow in the migrants due to the "emergency situation" in Hungary. | Austria's Chancellor Werner Faymann said that after talks with his German counterpart Angela Merkel, the two countries would allow in the migrants due to the "emergency situation" in Hungary. |
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 has become a major transit nation for people fleeing the Middle East and Africa who are seeking to reach north and west Europe. | Hungary has become a major transit nation for people fleeing the Middle East and Africa who are seeking to reach north and west Europe. |
The Hungarian parliament on Friday approved tougher border controls and penalties for migrants, underlining divisions within the EU on how to tackle the crisis. | The Hungarian parliament on Friday approved tougher border controls and penalties for migrants, underlining divisions within the EU on how to tackle the crisis. |
Hungary's Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, has said the surge in arrivals was "Germany's problem", since that was where most people wanted to go. | Hungary's Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, has said the surge in arrivals was "Germany's problem", since that was where most people wanted to go. |
But Chancellor Merkel has called for refugees to be fairly divided among EU members. | But Chancellor Merkel has called for refugees to be fairly divided among EU members. |
At the scene: Matthew Price, BBC News | At the scene: Matthew Price, BBC News |
Our correspondent has been walking with hundreds of migrants who attempted to travel on foot to Austria. | Our correspondent has been walking with hundreds of migrants who attempted to travel on foot to Austria. |