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| First refugees head for Croatia after Hungary's border crackdown – live updates | First refugees head for Croatia after Hungary's border crackdown – live updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 10.00am BST10:00 | |
| Several dozen migrants who entered Croatia from Serbia were picked up by police as they walked across a field, AFP reports. | |
| From there they were taken to a police station in the nearby town of Tovarnik to be registered, police said, and tended to by medical staff. | |
| Police said initially that a group of around 20 people entered the country. They said that other groups of similar sizes were on their way. | |
| AFP’s Eric Randolph added: | |
| Migrants being dropped near Croatia border but afraid to approach, trying to walk v long way round thru fields. border cops'll prob find em | |
| Updated at 10.15am BST | |
| 9.43am BST09:43 | 9.43am BST09:43 |
| Ben Knight | Ben Knight |
| German police have said dozens of refugees pulled the emergency brakes on a special train from Munich to Berlin on Tuesday and jumped off in the countryside in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, writes Ben Knight in Berlin. | German police have said dozens of refugees pulled the emergency brakes on a special train from Munich to Berlin on Tuesday and jumped off in the countryside in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, writes Ben Knight in Berlin. |
| Of some 518 refugees that were expected to arrive in the train in the German capital, only 339 arrived, federal police spokesman Jens Schobranski confirmed. They have since been rounded up and registered in centres in the state where they got off, he said. | Of some 518 refugees that were expected to arrive in the train in the German capital, only 339 arrived, federal police spokesman Jens Schobranski confirmed. They have since been rounded up and registered in centres in the state where they got off, he said. |
| The emergency brakes were pulled several times during the journey and whole groups of refugees jumped off at different points, police said. According to Berlin state’s social affairs ministry, which is in charge of administering the influx of refugees in the German capital, there could be many reasons why the 179 refugees stopped the train. They either had friends or relatives in the area, or were attempting to avoid being officially registered in Germany so that they could find their way to Sweden instead. | The emergency brakes were pulled several times during the journey and whole groups of refugees jumped off at different points, police said. According to Berlin state’s social affairs ministry, which is in charge of administering the influx of refugees in the German capital, there could be many reasons why the 179 refugees stopped the train. They either had friends or relatives in the area, or were attempting to avoid being officially registered in Germany so that they could find their way to Sweden instead. |
| On its Facebook page, the ministry said there had been no police on board the train - only the security personnel of Germany’s rail operator Deutsche Bahn. | On its Facebook page, the ministry said there had been no police on board the train - only the security personnel of Germany’s rail operator Deutsche Bahn. |
| The ministry said on Tuesday that the train in question had been diverted earlier in the day. In a statement posted on Facebook, the ministry said, “The train was originally supposed to head to another federal state, which said that it could no longer take in refugees. The states of Berlin and Brandenburg then spontaneously decided to take the people in. For that reason the train was diverted en route.” It remains unclear whether the diversion was connected with the deployment of the emergency brakes. | The ministry said on Tuesday that the train in question had been diverted earlier in the day. In a statement posted on Facebook, the ministry said, “The train was originally supposed to head to another federal state, which said that it could no longer take in refugees. The states of Berlin and Brandenburg then spontaneously decided to take the people in. For that reason the train was diverted en route.” It remains unclear whether the diversion was connected with the deployment of the emergency brakes. |
| Berlin is currently taking an influx of up to 1,000 refugees per day. | Berlin is currently taking an influx of up to 1,000 refugees per day. |
| 9.19am BST09:19 | 9.19am BST09:19 |
| Balkan minefield alarm | Balkan minefield alarm |
| There are concerns that refugees may inadvertently stray into Balkan minefields in the search for ways round new border restrictions. | There are concerns that refugees may inadvertently stray into Balkan minefields in the search for ways round new border restrictions. |
| If refugees are coming into Croatia thru' Tovarnik somebody on Syrian social media urgently has to circulate mine maps for Brcko -> Vukovar | If refugees are coming into Croatia thru' Tovarnik somebody on Syrian social media urgently has to circulate mine maps for Brcko -> Vukovar |
| Spread maps showing minefields at CRO/SRB border & warn #refugees to only use highways & avoid walking cross fields pic.twitter.com/SKgZ6RKJXl | Spread maps showing minefields at CRO/SRB border & warn #refugees to only use highways & avoid walking cross fields pic.twitter.com/SKgZ6RKJXl |
| Dan Nolan, has more on the minefields. Writing for IRIN News, he says: | Dan Nolan, has more on the minefields. Writing for IRIN News, he says: |
| For migrants wanting to avoid the risk of prison or expulsion back to Serbia, the alternatives are no better. The obvious route would be through Croatia into Hungary via its western border – which currently lacks a fence – or straight into Slovenia. But Slovenia’s terrain is mountainous and Croatia’s border with Serbia is strewn with thousands of landmines left over from Croatia’s War of Independence in the early 1990s. More than 500 people have been killed by landmines in the last 20 years in Croatia, which plans to clear all its suspected minefields only by 2019. | For migrants wanting to avoid the risk of prison or expulsion back to Serbia, the alternatives are no better. The obvious route would be through Croatia into Hungary via its western border – which currently lacks a fence – or straight into Slovenia. But Slovenia’s terrain is mountainous and Croatia’s border with Serbia is strewn with thousands of landmines left over from Croatia’s War of Independence in the early 1990s. More than 500 people have been killed by landmines in the last 20 years in Croatia, which plans to clear all its suspected minefields only by 2019. |
| Syrian refugees discussed the dangers of the Croatian route on the 113,000-member Facebook group “The Stations of the Forced Wanderers” on Monday evening. One man, who said he would be leading a group of refugees through Croatia, warned that “on the border with Serbia, there are minefields that are a consequence of the Civil War, and which are still there.” | Syrian refugees discussed the dangers of the Croatian route on the 113,000-member Facebook group “The Stations of the Forced Wanderers” on Monday evening. One man, who said he would be leading a group of refugees through Croatia, warned that “on the border with Serbia, there are minefields that are a consequence of the Civil War, and which are still there.” |
| Updated at 9.35am BST | Updated at 9.35am BST |
| 9.07am BST09:07 | 9.07am BST09:07 |
| Warship deployed in ‘next phase’ response to migration crisis | Warship deployed in ‘next phase’ response to migration crisis |
| A Royal Navy warship is to be deployed to tackle people smugglers in the Mediterranean Sea in what the defence minister described as a “next phase” in the UK’s response to the migration crisis. PA reports: | A Royal Navy warship is to be deployed to tackle people smugglers in the Mediterranean Sea in what the defence minister described as a “next phase” in the UK’s response to the migration crisis. PA reports: |
| HMS Richmond could be sent to the waters of the coast of Libya to stop the human traffickers who are risking the lives of refugees by taking them on the perilous journey to Europe by boat. | HMS Richmond could be sent to the waters of the coast of Libya to stop the human traffickers who are risking the lives of refugees by taking them on the perilous journey to Europe by boat. |
| More than 2,000 people have died trying to make the crossing so far this year, according to the International Organisation for Migration, and Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the crisis must be tackled “at source”. | More than 2,000 people have died trying to make the crossing so far this year, according to the International Organisation for Migration, and Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the crisis must be tackled “at source”. |
| The navy’s HMS Enterprise is already stationed in the Mediterranean and the offer of another frigate to go after criminals will be officially made at an EU force generation conference later today. | The navy’s HMS Enterprise is already stationed in the Mediterranean and the offer of another frigate to go after criminals will be officially made at an EU force generation conference later today. |
| While HMS Richmond, which has a special surveillance system allowing it to cover vast areas, will be able to help in search and rescue missions, its primary role will be to board and seize vessels in the southern Mediterranean, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said. | While HMS Richmond, which has a special surveillance system allowing it to cover vast areas, will be able to help in search and rescue missions, its primary role will be to board and seize vessels in the southern Mediterranean, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said. |
| Fallon said: “The Royal Navy has rescued thousands of people from peril but we’ve been clear we have to tackle the gangs behind this, which is why it’s important the mission moves to the next phase.” | Fallon said: “The Royal Navy has rescued thousands of people from peril but we’ve been clear we have to tackle the gangs behind this, which is why it’s important the mission moves to the next phase.” |
| The ship will be used to board and search refugee boats, according to the Guardian’s home affairs editor Alan Travis. | The ship will be used to board and search refugee boats, according to the Guardian’s home affairs editor Alan Travis. |
| EU: Rules of engagement to be agreed for HMS Richmond frigate ops to 'boarding, search, seizure and diversion' of refugee boats on high seas | EU: Rules of engagement to be agreed for HMS Richmond frigate ops to 'boarding, search, seizure and diversion' of refugee boats on high seas |
| The European Council has more on this next phase. | The European Council has more on this next phase. |
| This important transition will enable the EU naval operation against human smugglers and traffickers in the Mediterranean to conduct boarding, search, seizure and diversion on the high seas of vessels suspected of being used for human smuggling or trafficking, within international law. | This important transition will enable the EU naval operation against human smugglers and traffickers in the Mediterranean to conduct boarding, search, seizure and diversion on the high seas of vessels suspected of being used for human smuggling or trafficking, within international law. |
| Updated at 9.31am BST | Updated at 9.31am BST |
| 8.44am BST08:44 | 8.44am BST08:44 |
| Dozens of Hungarian lawyers have signed a protest letter against Hungary’s border crackdown. | Dozens of Hungarian lawyers have signed a protest letter against Hungary’s border crackdown. |
| It said the new laws which criminalise migration and involve fast track deportation to Serbia flout the “dignity of the legal profession”. | It said the new laws which criminalise migration and involve fast track deportation to Serbia flout the “dignity of the legal profession”. |
| 88 #Hungary-an lawyers (@indexhu's lawyer too) sign a petition&protest the #Hungary-an govt's refugee-punishing laws https://t.co/vk0hrYELzx | 88 #Hungary-an lawyers (@indexhu's lawyer too) sign a petition&protest the #Hungary-an govt's refugee-punishing laws https://t.co/vk0hrYELzx |
| 8.35am BST08:35 | 8.35am BST08:35 |
| Austria starts border controls | Austria starts border controls |
| Austria has begun selective controls of vehicles at three main border crossings with Hungary, AP reports. | Austria has begun selective controls of vehicles at three main border crossings with Hungary, AP reports. |
| Police say the controls, in effect since early Wednesday, may be extended to 10 crossings, with vehicles being stopped selectively for checks of passports and other travel documents. | Police say the controls, in effect since early Wednesday, may be extended to 10 crossings, with vehicles being stopped selectively for checks of passports and other travel documents. |
| Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner has said that Syrians and others in danger in their home countries can continue to ask for asylum in Austria. She says they will also be free to travel on to Germany, as has been the case up to now. | Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner has said that Syrians and others in danger in their home countries can continue to ask for asylum in Austria. She says they will also be free to travel on to Germany, as has been the case up to now. |
| 8.25am BST08:25 | 8.25am BST08:25 |
| Hundreds of stranded refugees and asylum seekers have spent the night at Hungary’s seal border crossing with Serbia between Horgos and Roszke. | Hundreds of stranded refugees and asylum seekers have spent the night at Hungary’s seal border crossing with Serbia between Horgos and Roszke. |
| An AFP reporter talked to some of those at the border: | An AFP reporter talked to some of those at the border: |
| “Why are they doing this?” asked an Afghan woman holding a child on the Serbian side of the fence where some 300 people gathered, some searching in vain for an opening, as Hungarian riot police watched them from the other side. | “Why are they doing this?” asked an Afghan woman holding a child on the Serbian side of the fence where some 300 people gathered, some searching in vain for an opening, as Hungarian riot police watched them from the other side. |
| “It was really bad last night,” said Bashir, a 17-year-old Afghan schoolboy who had arrived an hour after the border closed. “It was cold, particularly for families with little babies,” he told AFP. | “It was really bad last night,” said Bashir, a 17-year-old Afghan schoolboy who had arrived an hour after the border closed. “It was cold, particularly for families with little babies,” he told AFP. |
| The Balkan state’s minister for refugees, Aleksandar Vulin, urged Hungary to reopen its border, “at least for women and children”, speaking to AFP at the Horgos crossing, where around 100 people were waiting for the frontier to reopen. | The Balkan state’s minister for refugees, Aleksandar Vulin, urged Hungary to reopen its border, “at least for women and children”, speaking to AFP at the Horgos crossing, where around 100 people were waiting for the frontier to reopen. |
| 8.18am BST08:18 | 8.18am BST08:18 |
| Croatia confirms migrants entering from Serbia | Croatia confirms migrants entering from Serbia |
| The Croatian police have confirmed they are registering migrants entering from Serbia and warned they will transport them to reception centres near the capital Zagreb. | The Croatian police have confirmed they are registering migrants entering from Serbia and warned they will transport them to reception centres near the capital Zagreb. |
| A police spokesman in the eastern border county of Vukovarsko-Srijemska said an unspecified number of migrants had crossed into Croatia, after a Reuters cameraman saw at least 100 walking through fields across the border. | A police spokesman in the eastern border county of Vukovarsko-Srijemska said an unspecified number of migrants had crossed into Croatia, after a Reuters cameraman saw at least 100 walking through fields across the border. |
| A group of 30-40 mostly Syrian or Afghan nationals arrived at the Serbian town of Sid near the Croatian border early in the morning on Wednesday, according to Al-Jazeera. | A group of 30-40 mostly Syrian or Afghan nationals arrived at the Serbian town of Sid near the Croatian border early in the morning on Wednesday, according to Al-Jazeera. |
| They had travelled by bus from the Macedonian border at Presevo, 500km to the south. | They had travelled by bus from the Macedonian border at Presevo, 500km to the south. |
| Among the mixed group of men, women and children of all ages was Amadou, 35, from Mauritania in western Africa. | Among the mixed group of men, women and children of all ages was Amadou, 35, from Mauritania in western Africa. |
| “We heard that Hungary was closed so the police told us we should come this way,” he said. “We don’t know what we should do now. Do we have to catch a boat?” | “We heard that Hungary was closed so the police told us we should come this way,” he said. “We don’t know what we should do now. Do we have to catch a boat?” |
| He was pleased to hear there was no water to cross and it was only about 10km to the border. He was also surprised to hear the group was thought to be the first to attempt this route into northern Europe. | He was pleased to hear there was no water to cross and it was only about 10km to the border. He was also surprised to hear the group was thought to be the first to attempt this route into northern Europe. |
| First refugees arrive at Croatian frontier, carving out new route after Hungary seals borders. http://t.co/RJj2TO0WXC pic.twitter.com/6CUpsmkWIa | First refugees arrive at Croatian frontier, carving out new route after Hungary seals borders. http://t.co/RJj2TO0WXC pic.twitter.com/6CUpsmkWIa |
| Overnight Croatia warned that it would not allow migrants to “move through” the country en route to western Europe. | Overnight Croatia warned that it would not allow migrants to “move through” the country en route to western Europe. |
| 7.58am BST07:58 | 7.58am BST07:58 |
| Summary | Summary |
| Welcome to our continuing live coverage of the escalating refugee crisis across Europe. | Welcome to our continuing live coverage of the escalating refugee crisis across Europe. |
| Here’s a round of the latest developments: | Here’s a round of the latest developments: |
| Tuesday’s events in “Fortress Europe” were neatly summed up by the Guardian’s migration correspondent Patrick Kingsley. | Tuesday’s events in “Fortress Europe” were neatly summed up by the Guardian’s migration correspondent Patrick Kingsley. |
| First Hungary blocked its southern border with Serbia, putting into action its much-heralded fence, declaring a state of emergency in two southern counties, and arresting dozens of people for attempting to cross the border under new laws unveiled last week by the prime minister, Viktor Orbán. | First Hungary blocked its southern border with Serbia, putting into action its much-heralded fence, declaring a state of emergency in two southern counties, and arresting dozens of people for attempting to cross the border under new laws unveiled last week by the prime minister, Viktor Orbán. |
| Next Hungary announced plans to seal its border with Romania, a move denounced as “not a fair gesture” by the foreign ministry in Bucharest. Then Serbia warned it could not become the dumping ground for Europe’s refugees – or, as its foreign minister put it, “a collection centre”. And finally Austria introduced security checks along its border with Hungary, a measure it said could be extended to those with Slovenia, Italy and Slovakia if needed. | Next Hungary announced plans to seal its border with Romania, a move denounced as “not a fair gesture” by the foreign ministry in Bucharest. Then Serbia warned it could not become the dumping ground for Europe’s refugees – or, as its foreign minister put it, “a collection centre”. And finally Austria introduced security checks along its border with Hungary, a measure it said could be extended to those with Slovenia, Italy and Slovakia if needed. |