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| Refugee crisis: Hungary builds border fence with Croatia - live updates | Refugee crisis: Hungary builds border fence with Croatia - live updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 10.23am BST10:23 | |
| Now that Hungary is building a new fence with Croatia, the only other way to western Europe from Croatia is through Slovenia. | |
| The Slovenia authorities are reported to be returning people to Croatia and have stopped all rail traffic between the two countries. | |
| Around 150 refugees entered Slovenia by train and were transported to a refugee centre in Postojna in western Slovenia, according to Balkan Insight. | |
| Slovenia has already reintroduce border controls with Hungary. | |
| Announcing the move the Slovenian prime minister, Miro Cerar, said the controls with Hungary “will make it possible to keep the situation under control”. | |
| Overnight, Cerar said refugees will either be registered in Slovenia or sent back to Croatia. Speaking on state television he said Slovenia would implement Schengen rules and that “only those meeting the EU’s requirements can be allowed to cross the border”. | |
| 9.48am BST09:48 | 9.48am BST09:48 |
| More details have emerged about Hungary’s decision to build a new heavily armed 41km razor-wire fence with Croatia. | More details have emerged about Hungary’s decision to build a new heavily armed 41km razor-wire fence with Croatia. |
| In a radio interview Prime Minister Viktor Orban said: | In a radio interview Prime Minister Viktor Orban said: |
| “During the night work already began on building the technical border closure... It seems we can rely on help from no one | “During the night work already began on building the technical border closure... It seems we can rely on help from no one |
| “Forces are being redeployed, 600 soldiers are already at the scene, 500 will arrive there in the course of the day, and several hundred at the weekend. Two hundred police have been assigned to the Croatian border. | “Forces are being redeployed, 600 soldiers are already at the scene, 500 will arrive there in the course of the day, and several hundred at the weekend. Two hundred police have been assigned to the Croatian border. |
| “There will be no sandhill or molehill to hide behind, we will defend our borders.” | “There will be no sandhill or molehill to hide behind, we will defend our borders.” |
| “The western Balkans route is still there. The fact the Hungarian-Serbian border is now closed has not stopped the flow.” | “The western Balkans route is still there. The fact the Hungarian-Serbian border is now closed has not stopped the flow.” |
| Hungary’s decision to fire teargas and water cannon at refugees trying to cross its border on Wednesday continues to be criticised. | Hungary’s decision to fire teargas and water cannon at refugees trying to cross its border on Wednesday continues to be criticised. |
| UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said he was appalled by the scenes. | UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said he was appalled by the scenes. |
| In a statement he said: “The images of women and young children being assaulted with tear gas and water cannons at Hungary’s border with Serbia were truly shocking. I am appalled at the callous, and in some cases illegal, actions of the Hungarian authorities in recent days, which include denying entry to, arresting, summarily rejecting and returning refugees, using disproportionate force on migrants and refugees, as well as reportedly assaulting journalists and seizing video documentation. Some of these actions amount to clear violations of international law.” | In a statement he said: “The images of women and young children being assaulted with tear gas and water cannons at Hungary’s border with Serbia were truly shocking. I am appalled at the callous, and in some cases illegal, actions of the Hungarian authorities in recent days, which include denying entry to, arresting, summarily rejecting and returning refugees, using disproportionate force on migrants and refugees, as well as reportedly assaulting journalists and seizing video documentation. Some of these actions amount to clear violations of international law.” |
| 9.29am BST09:29 | 9.29am BST09:29 |
| Asylum seeker killed in Channel Tunnel | Asylum seeker killed in Channel Tunnel |
| An asylum seeker, thought to be a Syrian man, was electrocuted last night near the entrance to the Channel Tunnel in France, a spokesman for the local authorities in northern France told AFP. | An asylum seeker, thought to be a Syrian man, was electrocuted last night near the entrance to the Channel Tunnel in France, a spokesman for the local authorities in northern France told AFP. |
| He tried to climb on to the roof of a train to make his way to England the official said. “The individual died after he was electrocuted trying to climb on to the freight car,” the official said. | He tried to climb on to the roof of a train to make his way to England the official said. “The individual died after he was electrocuted trying to climb on to the freight car,” the official said. |
| The man was found dead shortly before midnight Thursday. Officials said it was the 10th death of a migrant in or near the tunnel since late June. | The man was found dead shortly before midnight Thursday. Officials said it was the 10th death of a migrant in or near the tunnel since late June. |
| Eurotunnel reported some disruption to services this morning. | Eurotunnel reported some disruption to services this morning. |
| Our Passenger service is currently operating with up to 2 departures per hour but some trains are leaving later than originally planned ^CM | Our Passenger service is currently operating with up to 2 departures per hour but some trains are leaving later than originally planned ^CM |
| 9.22am BST09:22 | 9.22am BST09:22 |
| Croatia’s interior ministry has reported another sharp rise in the number of people crossing its border. The figure for new arrivals this week is now up to 13,300 almost six times the number for the whole of last year. | Croatia’s interior ministry has reported another sharp rise in the number of people crossing its border. The figure for new arrivals this week is now up to 13,300 almost six times the number for the whole of last year. |
| Interior Minister Ranko Ostojic said he had a message for migrants: “Don’t come here anymore. Stay in refugee centers in Serbia and Macedonia and Greece. This is not the road to Europe. Buses can’t take you there. It’s a lie.” | Interior Minister Ranko Ostojic said he had a message for migrants: “Don’t come here anymore. Stay in refugee centers in Serbia and Macedonia and Greece. This is not the road to Europe. Buses can’t take you there. It’s a lie.” |
| 8.55am BST08:55 | 8.55am BST08:55 |
| Patrick Kingsley | Patrick Kingsley |
| Patrick Kingsley has the latest from Croatia’s Tovarnik railway station. | Patrick Kingsley has the latest from Croatia’s Tovarnik railway station. |
| More than 2,000 refugees were left stranded overnight in a border town near Croatia’s border with Serbia as Slovenia prevented hundreds of others from leaving north-west Croatia, leading to fears that the latest refugee route into the European Union may turn out to be a dead-end. | More than 2,000 refugees were left stranded overnight in a border town near Croatia’s border with Serbia as Slovenia prevented hundreds of others from leaving north-west Croatia, leading to fears that the latest refugee route into the European Union may turn out to be a dead-end. |
| Early on Friday morning, Croatia also closed seven of its eight road border crossings with Serbia after complaining of being overwhelmed by the arrival of more than 11,000 migrants and refugees. | Early on Friday morning, Croatia also closed seven of its eight road border crossings with Serbia after complaining of being overwhelmed by the arrival of more than 11,000 migrants and refugees. |
| At least 2,000 people were stuck in Tovarnik, the first Croatian town after the border with Serbia. While a specially commissioned train arrived to pick many of them up at about midnight, the train was still waiting in the station at 7am, its 10 carriages packed with about 1,000 restless refugees largely from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. | At least 2,000 people were stuck in Tovarnik, the first Croatian town after the border with Serbia. While a specially commissioned train arrived to pick many of them up at about midnight, the train was still waiting in the station at 7am, its 10 carriages packed with about 1,000 restless refugees largely from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. |
| More than 1,000 others were left sleeping on the station platforms and in the streets of Tovarnik, a small and sleepy rural town that has no hotels. Small children slept on cold stone slabs, and a baby was placed inside a small suitcase to keep it warm. | More than 1,000 others were left sleeping on the station platforms and in the streets of Tovarnik, a small and sleepy rural town that has no hotels. Small children slept on cold stone slabs, and a baby was placed inside a small suitcase to keep it warm. |
| Related: More than 2,000 refugees stranded at Croatian border town | Related: More than 2,000 refugees stranded at Croatian border town |
| 8.43am BST08:43 | 8.43am BST08:43 |
| A right wing mayor in Hungary has launched a chilling video warning refugees and migrants not to try to reach Germany via Hungary. | A right wing mayor in Hungary has launched a chilling video warning refugees and migrants not to try to reach Germany via Hungary. |
| In the video Laszlo Toroczkai, the crew cut mayor of Asotthalom on the Serbian border, is shown in a field next to the border fence flanked by burley border guards dressed in shades and camouflage trousers. | In the video Laszlo Toroczkai, the crew cut mayor of Asotthalom on the Serbian border, is shown in a field next to the border fence flanked by burley border guards dressed in shades and camouflage trousers. |
| “The borders of Hungary are protected by a fence that is continuously being built,” he warns. | “The borders of Hungary are protected by a fence that is continuously being built,” he warns. |
| The video goes on to depict border guards in helicopters, 4x4 vehicles, on motorbikes and on horse back. The action shots are accompanied by the sound macho music. | The video goes on to depict border guards in helicopters, 4x4 vehicles, on motorbikes and on horse back. The action shots are accompanied by the sound macho music. |
| Over the image of a map showing migration routes, Toroczkai says: “If you are an illegal immigrant and you want to get to Germany then the shortest journey from Serbia is through Croatia and Slovenia. Do not trust lying human traffickers. Hungary is a bad choice. Asotthalom is the worst.” | Over the image of a map showing migration routes, Toroczkai says: “If you are an illegal immigrant and you want to get to Germany then the shortest journey from Serbia is through Croatia and Slovenia. Do not trust lying human traffickers. Hungary is a bad choice. Asotthalom is the worst.” |
| 8.16am BST08:16 | 8.16am BST08:16 |
| Calls for action against Hungary | Calls for action against Hungary |
| There are growing calls for the EU to sanction Hungary over its treatment of refugees. | There are growing calls for the EU to sanction Hungary over its treatment of refugees. |
| Countries that do not share European values cannot count on receiving money from the bloc, German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel warned in an interview with the newspaper Bild. | Countries that do not share European values cannot count on receiving money from the bloc, German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel warned in an interview with the newspaper Bild. |
| Gabriel said that while Germany was opening gymnasiums, barracks and homes to refugee families, other countries were “laying barbed wire on their borders and closing the gates”. | Gabriel said that while Germany was opening gymnasiums, barracks and homes to refugee families, other countries were “laying barbed wire on their borders and closing the gates”. |
| The comments came after Hungary was widely condemned for using teargas and water cannon to stop people crossings its border with Serbia. Undeterred Hungary’s anti-immigration prime minister Viktor Orban announced the start of construction of 41km fence with Croatia. | The comments came after Hungary was widely condemned for using teargas and water cannon to stop people crossings its border with Serbia. Undeterred Hungary’s anti-immigration prime minister Viktor Orban announced the start of construction of 41km fence with Croatia. |
| The Washington Post urged Europe to consider suspending Hungary from the EU. In an editorial it said: | The Washington Post urged Europe to consider suspending Hungary from the EU. In an editorial it said: |
| Tougher steps may be needed to stop Mr. Orban from imposing his agenda of intolerance. Austrian and German officials have suggested that generous EU subsidies to Hungary should be reconsidered; the union also has the option of suspending Budapest’s voting rights. One way or another, the European Union must make clear its rejection of Mr. Orban’s repellent policies. | Tougher steps may be needed to stop Mr. Orban from imposing his agenda of intolerance. Austrian and German officials have suggested that generous EU subsidies to Hungary should be reconsidered; the union also has the option of suspending Budapest’s voting rights. One way or another, the European Union must make clear its rejection of Mr. Orban’s repellent policies. |
| 7.56am BST07:56 | 7.56am BST07:56 |
| Welcome to our continuing live coverage of the increasingly dire refugee crisis as more borders are shut across central Europe. Refugees and migrants continue to arrive at Europe’s door only to be being greeted with more closed border crossings, new fences and extra riot police. | Welcome to our continuing live coverage of the increasingly dire refugee crisis as more borders are shut across central Europe. Refugees and migrants continue to arrive at Europe’s door only to be being greeted with more closed border crossings, new fences and extra riot police. |
| Here’s a roundup of the latest developments: | Here’s a roundup of the latest developments: |
| On Wednesday, the bottleneck was at Horgoš on Serbia’s border with Hungary, where Hungarian police fired teargas at crowds of refugees who tried to rush a border gate when they suddenly found their northward procession blocked. But by Thursday, after Serbian officials bussed thousands of people from its Hungarian border to its Croatian one, the flashpoint had moved 120 miles south west. | On Wednesday, the bottleneck was at Horgoš on Serbia’s border with Hungary, where Hungarian police fired teargas at crowds of refugees who tried to rush a border gate when they suddenly found their northward procession blocked. But by Thursday, after Serbian officials bussed thousands of people from its Hungarian border to its Croatian one, the flashpoint had moved 120 miles south west. |
| At first things seemed to go smoothly. People were dropped off easily enough in Šid. Then they walked through the cauldron of the late Balkans summer, and through a series of pancake-flat corn fields to find waiting trains and coaches, amid an initially warm series of media statements from Croatia’s prime minister. | At first things seemed to go smoothly. People were dropped off easily enough in Šid. Then they walked through the cauldron of the late Balkans summer, and through a series of pancake-flat corn fields to find waiting trains and coaches, amid an initially warm series of media statements from Croatia’s prime minister. |
| But in Tovarnik, as the news spread that Croatia was open and more than 5,000 people piled over the border, matters quickly unravelled. The government had not prepared enough transport for such a huge volume of people, nor enough water, and there were too few officials to provide information and direction to newcomers who had little idea of where they were. | But in Tovarnik, as the news spread that Croatia was open and more than 5,000 people piled over the border, matters quickly unravelled. The government had not prepared enough transport for such a huge volume of people, nor enough water, and there were too few officials to provide information and direction to newcomers who had little idea of where they were. |