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| Austria deploys troops in border control crackdown on refugee influx | Austria deploys troops in border control crackdown on refugee influx |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Austria is deploying its army to carry out tougher border checks as the country attempts to tackle its growing refugee crisis. | Austria is deploying its army to carry out tougher border checks as the country attempts to tackle its growing refugee crisis. |
| Vice-chancellor Reinhold Mitterlehner told a news conference: “If Germany carries out border controls, Austria must put strengthened border controls in place. We are doing that now.” | |
| The announcement comes as European interior ministers meet in Brussels today, in a summit which is expected to soften demands from the European commission to mandatorily distribute refugees across 22 countries. | |
| A four-page draft document prepared by EU ambassadors before the meeting reportedly focuses on “Fortress Europe” policies. | |
| The document, obtained by the Guardian, allegedly sets out plans for “reception facilities” to “temporarily accommodate people” in Greece and Italy while they are identified, registered and finger-printed. | |
| It also purportedly suggests that “rapid border intervention teams” are implemented at “sensitive external borders” to "identify persons in need of international protection and support their relocation." | |
| “Irregular migrants” whose asylum claims fail will be "returned", according to the document. When return is not practicable then “detention measures” will be applied, it reportedly says, to prevent secondary movements to other EU countries. | |
| On Sunday, Germany introduced temporary controls on its border with Austria. | |
| Trains between Germany and Austria were also suspended for 12 hours until early this morning as Germany's vice-chancellor warned the country was “at the limit of its capabilities”. | Trains between Germany and Austria were also suspended for 12 hours until early this morning as Germany's vice-chancellor warned the country was “at the limit of its capabilities”. |
| Germany's actions go against the principles of the Schengen zone, which allows free movement between several European countries, although the agreement does allow for temporary suspensions. | Germany's actions go against the principles of the Schengen zone, which allows free movement between several European countries, although the agreement does allow for temporary suspensions. |
| The controls on Germany’s border with Austria led to traffic jams this morning, with authorities in Bavaria reporting a two-mile tail-backs on the A8 highway at Bad Reichenhall, near Salzburg. | The controls on Germany’s border with Austria led to traffic jams this morning, with authorities in Bavaria reporting a two-mile tail-backs on the A8 highway at Bad Reichenhall, near Salzburg. |
| Regional Broadcaster Bayericher Rundfunk reported a four-mile queue on the A3 highway near Passau. | Regional Broadcaster Bayericher Rundfunk reported a four-mile queue on the A3 highway near Passau. |
| Austrian police say thousands of migrants are still arriving into towns on the country's eastern border with Hungary. | Austrian police say thousands of migrants are still arriving into towns on the country's eastern border with Hungary. |
| Police spokesman Gerald Pangl said around 14,000 people arrived at Nickelsdorf on Sunday and another 2,500 arrived this morning. | Police spokesman Gerald Pangl said around 14,000 people arrived at Nickelsdorf on Sunday and another 2,500 arrived this morning. |
| Recently, significant numbers of migrants have also been crossing into Austria further south at Heiligenkreuz. Between 5,000 and 10,000 people are expected there today, police spokesman Gerald Koller told the Austria Press Agency. | Recently, significant numbers of migrants have also been crossing into Austria further south at Heiligenkreuz. Between 5,000 and 10,000 people are expected there today, police spokesman Gerald Koller told the Austria Press Agency. |
| Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban directed 900 new policemen to the southern border with Serbia to manage record numbers of refugees and migrants entering the EU. | Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban directed 900 new policemen to the southern border with Serbia to manage record numbers of refugees and migrants entering the EU. |
| A total of 5,809 people fleeing their homelands entered Hungary on Sunday, an increase on the previous day’s record of 4,330. | A total of 5,809 people fleeing their homelands entered Hungary on Sunday, an increase on the previous day’s record of 4,330. |
| France has also called for tighter controls at Europe's borders to deal with the influx of migrants and to identify refugees from economic migrants. | France has also called for tighter controls at Europe's borders to deal with the influx of migrants and to identify refugees from economic migrants. |
| French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve called for centres where the thousands of migrants can be processed, as well as a common asylum process. | French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve called for centres where the thousands of migrants can be processed, as well as a common asylum process. |
| “Behind this humanitarian reality is a European reality,” Mr Cazeneuve told RTL radio. | “Behind this humanitarian reality is a European reality,” Mr Cazeneuve told RTL radio. |
| Additional reporting by various agencies | Additional reporting by various agencies |