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Migrants Can Enter Austria and Germany, Official Says Migrants Can Enter Austria and Germany, Official Says
(about 1 hour later)
BUDAPEST — Thousands of refugees who have been bottled up in Hungary, demanding passage to the West, will be allowed into Austria and Germany, the Austrian chancellor said late Friday. BUDAPEST — Thousands of migrants who have been bottled up in Hungary, demanding passage to the West, will be allowed into Austria and Germany, the Austrian chancellor said late Friday.
After several days of chaos and civil disobedience by the migrants, Hungarian officials threw in the towel and allowed the people living in a squalid encampment in a below-ground plaza outside the city’s main train station onto more than 40 buses headed for the Austrian border, as they had been demanding.After several days of chaos and civil disobedience by the migrants, Hungarian officials threw in the towel and allowed the people living in a squalid encampment in a below-ground plaza outside the city’s main train station onto more than 40 buses headed for the Austrian border, as they had been demanding.
“On the basis of the current situation of need, Austria and Germany agree to allow in this case the onward journey of these refugees into their countries,” Chancellor Werner Faymann of Austria wrote on his Facebook page.“On the basis of the current situation of need, Austria and Germany agree to allow in this case the onward journey of these refugees into their countries,” Chancellor Werner Faymann of Austria wrote on his Facebook page.
Austrian officials promised to do what they could to receive the migrants safely and seamlessly.Austrian officials promised to do what they could to receive the migrants safely and seamlessly.
After a confusing night, in which the police warned that soccer hooligans were planning to attack the encampment, the promised buses finally began arriving around 1 a.m. Saturday, to cheering and clapping from the weary migrants. Late into a confusing night, during which the police warned that soccer hooligans were planning to attack the encampment, the promised buses finally began arriving around 1 a.m. Saturday, to cheering and clapping from the weary migrants.
The people in the encampment had hoped to travel by train to Austria and then on to Germany, and the Hungarian authorities had let six trainloads of them through on Monday before shutting down all international rail traffic to the West. The people in the encampment had hoped to travel by train to Austria and then on to Germany, and the Hungarian authorities had let six trainloads of them through on Monday before closing off the station to them and eventually shutting down all international rail traffic to the West.
Officials said that more than a thousand other migrants who had begun walking Friday down the M1 motorway, the country’s main road to the West, severely disrupting traffic, would also be picked up and driven to the border. But migrants allowed only one bus to leave, saying they would wait to see if it actually went to the border before allowing others to depart.Officials said that more than a thousand other migrants who had begun walking Friday down the M1 motorway, the country’s main road to the West, severely disrupting traffic, would also be picked up and driven to the border. But migrants allowed only one bus to leave, saying they would wait to see if it actually went to the border before allowing others to depart.
Police helicopters swirled overhead, and the migrants, uncertain what to do, huddled together in the fetid encampment to wait for what the night would bring. Police helicopters swirled overhead, and the migrants, uncertain what to do, huddled together in the fetid encampment.
Just before 1 a.m. on Saturday, a man with a bullhorn began telling the crowd that they would be taken to the border, but that they should bring with them as much food and water as they could. Families began frantically packing their possessions. Be prepared to move, they were told. Just before 1 a.m. on Saturday, a man with a bullhorn began telling the crowd that they would be taken to the border, and that they should bring with them as much food and water as they could. Families began frantically packing their possessions. Be prepared to move, they were told.
The long line of regional buses began loading the migrants. Some were marked “chartered service” or “transit service.” They were mostly rickety, Soviet-era buses in distinctive blue and yellow liveries.The long line of regional buses began loading the migrants. Some were marked “chartered service” or “transit service.” They were mostly rickety, Soviet-era buses in distinctive blue and yellow liveries.
People waited in long lines to board, and by 1:10 a.m., the first buses were on the move. Migrants waved happily to onlookers as they pulled away.People waited in long lines to board, and by 1:10 a.m., the first buses were on the move. Migrants waved happily to onlookers as they pulled away.
By 2 a.m., the police said, 40 buses had departed. More were en route to carry migrants waiting at other locations around the city, who were being told they needed to make their way to the main Keleti station to catch them.By 2 a.m., the police said, 40 buses had departed. More were en route to carry migrants waiting at other locations around the city, who were being told they needed to make their way to the main Keleti station to catch them.
Government officials said Friday evening that the buses would take the migrants to Hegyeshalom, the main border crossing on the road to Vienna.Government officials said Friday evening that the buses would take the migrants to Hegyeshalom, the main border crossing on the road to Vienna.
The decision to let the migrants go came at an emergency session of top Hungarian officials on Friday, and was made both for humanitarian reasons and to ease the pressure on the nation’s transit system, said Janos Lazar, the prime minister’s chief of staff.The decision to let the migrants go came at an emergency session of top Hungarian officials on Friday, and was made both for humanitarian reasons and to ease the pressure on the nation’s transit system, said Janos Lazar, the prime minister’s chief of staff.
Mr. Faymann said on his Facebook page that he had spoken with Viktor Orban, the prime minister of Hungary, and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, and that the migrants would be allowed into both countries. Mr. Faymann said on his Facebook page that he had spoken with Viktor Orban, the prime minister of Hungary, and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, and that the migrants would be allowed into Austria and Germany.
Karl-Heinz Grundböck, a spokesman for the Austrian Interior Ministry, said the police and volunteer organizations like the Red Cross would try to smooth the arrival of the migrants.Karl-Heinz Grundböck, a spokesman for the Austrian Interior Ministry, said the police and volunteer organizations like the Red Cross would try to smooth the arrival of the migrants.
The six trains that left Budapest on Monday arrived in Munich the next morning after a chaotic and crowded journey across Austria, and the more than 3,000 passengers were quickly processed by the German immigration authorities.The six trains that left Budapest on Monday arrived in Munich the next morning after a chaotic and crowded journey across Austria, and the more than 3,000 passengers were quickly processed by the German immigration authorities.
More than 300,000 people have crossed into Europe by sea — most of them from Libya to Italy or from Turkey to Greece — and 2,600 have died in the attempt. Thirty to 40 drowned Friday after a boat carrying more than 120 Somalis, Sudanese and Nigerians deflated off the coast of Libya.More than 300,000 people have crossed into Europe by sea — most of them from Libya to Italy or from Turkey to Greece — and 2,600 have died in the attempt. Thirty to 40 drowned Friday after a boat carrying more than 120 Somalis, Sudanese and Nigerians deflated off the coast of Libya.
The migrants who manage to get to Greece must then begin a difficult trek across Macedonia and Serbia before sneaking into Hungary in hopes of getting, eventually, to preferred destinations such as Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands. The migrants who manage to get to Greece must then begin a difficult trek across Macedonia and Serbia before sneaking into Hungary in hopes of getting, eventually, to preferred destinations like Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands, which are prosperous, offer the chance for jobs and have been more welcoming than other nations.
Nearly 170,000 migrants have crossed Hungary’s southern border this year, officials said. Some, using human smugglers or managing to gain access to trains or taxis, have made their way to the West, while others are waiting in crowded Hungarian reception centers for their cases to be resolved, or clustering at Keleti and other Hungarian train depots.Nearly 170,000 migrants have crossed Hungary’s southern border this year, officials said. Some, using human smugglers or managing to gain access to trains or taxis, have made their way to the West, while others are waiting in crowded Hungarian reception centers for their cases to be resolved, or clustering at Keleti and other Hungarian train depots.
In response to reports that Germany was prepared to be more accepting of migrants from war-torn Syria, the number of people pouring into Hungary rose rapidly in recent weeks. Two months ago, around 2,000 a day were crossing the border. Within the last week, it grew to 3,000 or more, and they continued to arrive despite the closing of the Budapest train station and a crackdown by Hungarian officials.In response to reports that Germany was prepared to be more accepting of migrants from war-torn Syria, the number of people pouring into Hungary rose rapidly in recent weeks. Two months ago, around 2,000 a day were crossing the border. Within the last week, it grew to 3,000 or more, and they continued to arrive despite the closing of the Budapest train station and a crackdown by Hungarian officials.
The refugee crisis has struck a deep chord in Austria, which accepted waves of people in past decades whenever unrest hit the Soviet bloc — Hungary in 1956, Czechoslovakia in 1968 and Poland in 1981 — and during the Balkan wars of the 1990s.The refugee crisis has struck a deep chord in Austria, which accepted waves of people in past decades whenever unrest hit the Soviet bloc — Hungary in 1956, Czechoslovakia in 1968 and Poland in 1981 — and during the Balkan wars of the 1990s.
For much of the night, the migrants awaited the arrival of the promised buses, unsure whether to trust the Hungarian authorities to actually take them to the Austrian border. For much of Friday night, the migrants awaited the arrival of the buses, unsure whether to trust Hungarian authorities to take them to the Austrian border.
Adding to the confusion and tension, riot police officers had closed and locked all access to Keleti station and the nearby subway station, and had blocked the main stairwells leading up from the migrants’ encampment. The police said they had done so because of rumors that soccer hooligans, leaving a hard-fought match between the Hungarian and Romanian national teams, intended to come to the station and attack the migrants. Adding to the confusion and tension, riot police officers had closed and locked all access to Keleti station and the nearby subway station, and had blocked the main stairwells leading up from the migrants’ encampment. The police said they had done so because of rumors that soccer hooligans, leaving a match between the Hungarian and Romanian national teams, intended to head to the station and attack the migrants.
A huge operation Friday night, involving thousands of police officers, was intended to “protect the migrants,” said one officer, who would not give his name. Arabic-speaking refugees on bullhorns exhorted any migrants still above ground in the station area to retreat to the underground encampment, where the police could protect them from the soccer hooligans. A huge operation on Friday, involving thousands of police officers, was intended to “protect the migrants,” said one officer, who would not give his name. Arabic-speaking migrants on bullhorns exhorted any migrants still above ground in the station area to retreat to the underground encampment, where the police could protect them from the soccer hooligans.
“These people are coming, and they will be dangerous,” one screamed.
Families straggled down to the encampment, women cradling babies, men hauling plastic bags full of their few remaining possessions. Fear of an attack and the heavy police presence made them wary of sleeping outside at ground level, as many had in recent nights.Families straggled down to the encampment, women cradling babies, men hauling plastic bags full of their few remaining possessions. Fear of an attack and the heavy police presence made them wary of sleeping outside at ground level, as many had in recent nights.
“Why people want to attack us?” asked Mohammad, 25, a student of Arabic literature who is Palestinian and grew up in the Yarmouk camp in Syria. He would not give his last name for fear that the Syrian government would harm his family.“Why people want to attack us?” asked Mohammad, 25, a student of Arabic literature who is Palestinian and grew up in the Yarmouk camp in Syria. He would not give his last name for fear that the Syrian government would harm his family.
But the soccer hooligans never appeared.But the soccer hooligans never appeared.
Before the arrival of the buses, the underground concourse was full of hundreds, perhaps thousands. Even in the tense atmosphere, with the helicopters circling and sirens wailing, the migrants continued to wash in the public water pipes. Many had bedded down for the night. Others said they could not sleep.Before the arrival of the buses, the underground concourse was full of hundreds, perhaps thousands. Even in the tense atmosphere, with the helicopters circling and sirens wailing, the migrants continued to wash in the public water pipes. Many had bedded down for the night. Others said they could not sleep.
Rumors about the promised buses to Austria had circulated through the crowd, but some said they would not trust the authorities. When two trains were allowed to leave Keleti station on Thursday, people boarding them were told they were bound for the border, only to be taken to stations near detention camps.Rumors about the promised buses to Austria had circulated through the crowd, but some said they would not trust the authorities. When two trains were allowed to leave Keleti station on Thursday, people boarding them were told they were bound for the border, only to be taken to stations near detention camps.
Meanwhile, Abdullah Kurdi buried his sons — Aylan, 3, and Ghalib, 5 — and their mother, Rehan, in Kobani, Syria, his ancestral home: a city he had fled to, and later fled from, to escape war. Mr. Kurdi was the only family member to survive when a smugglers’ raft bound from Turkey to Greece foundered on Wednesday. A picture of the body of Aylan face down in the surf, almost as if sleeping, focused new public attention on the plight of Syrian refugees.Meanwhile, Abdullah Kurdi buried his sons — Aylan, 3, and Ghalib, 5 — and their mother, Rehan, in Kobani, Syria, his ancestral home: a city he had fled to, and later fled from, to escape war. Mr. Kurdi was the only family member to survive when a smugglers’ raft bound from Turkey to Greece foundered on Wednesday. A picture of the body of Aylan face down in the surf, almost as if sleeping, focused new public attention on the plight of Syrian refugees.
“The father gave a speech that was really painful,” said Salih Muslim, an activist in Kobani who attended the funeral and was reached by phone. There was, Mr. Muslim said, “weeping and crying all over the place.”“The father gave a speech that was really painful,” said Salih Muslim, an activist in Kobani who attended the funeral and was reached by phone. There was, Mr. Muslim said, “weeping and crying all over the place.”