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Austrian army to tighten migrant border checks Austrian army to tighten migrant border checks
(35 minutes later)
Austria’s army will start carrying out identity and bag checks of every migrant arriving at the main border crossing with Slovenia, as part of government measures heralding a tougher stance on Europe’s refugee crisis. Austria’s army will start carrying out identity and bag checks on every migrant arriving at the main border crossing with Slovenia, as part of government measures that herald a tougher stance on Europe’s refugee crisis.
Approximately 500 newly deployed troops will help police process up to 6,000 migrants a day at the Spielfeld crossing in the southern state of Styria, a police spokesman, Fritz Grundnig, said on Tuesday. Approximately 500 newly deployed troops will help police to processing up to 6,000 migrants a day at the Spielfeld crossing in the southern state of Styria, a police spokesman said on Tuesday.
In case of a spike in numbers, security forces could handle up to 11,000 people – the average daily number of migrants who crossed into Austria late last year. “Until now we’ve only been able to carry out random spot checks, but this will allow us to ensure watertight controls of every single migrant,” Grundnig said. “Until now we’ve only been able to carry out random spot checks, but this will allow us to ensure watertight controls of every single migrant,” Fritz Grundnig said.
Related: Austria plans to close border as refugee crisis growsRelated: Austria plans to close border as refugee crisis grows
Initially the soldiers would process only several hundred migrants, while the rest would be allowed to cross from Slovenia via Austria’s other border crossing in Carinthia state. “But the idea is that eventually Spielfeld will be the only crossing point for migrants,” Grundnig added. The soldiers would initially process only several hundred migrants, while the rest would be allowed to cross from Slovenia via Austria’s other border crossing in Carinthia state. “But the idea is that eventually Spielfeld will be the only crossing point for migrants,” Grundnig said.
The measure has come days before Austria is expected to complete the construction of a 2.3-mile (3.7km) mesh fence at Spielfeld. The barrier – which could be ready by Friday, according to Grundnig – will be the first of its kind inside the EU’s passport-free Schengen zone. The measure comes days before Austria is expected to complete the construction of a 2.3-mile mesh fence at Spielfeld. The barrier – which could be ready by Friday, according to Grundnig – will be the first of its kind inside the EU’s passport-free Schengen zone.
In a further sign of its hardening line, Austria signalled that it would follow neighbouring Germany’s lead and begin turning back any new arrivals seeking to claim asylum in Scandinavia. Berlin’s clampdown started after Sweden and Denmark tightened their borders this month. “If Germany rejects migrants who want to travel to Sweden, we will do the same,” the Austrian chancellor, Werner Faymann, said on Sunday.In a further sign of its hardening line, Austria signalled that it would follow neighbouring Germany’s lead and begin turning back any new arrivals seeking to claim asylum in Scandinavia. Berlin’s clampdown started after Sweden and Denmark tightened their borders this month. “If Germany rejects migrants who want to travel to Sweden, we will do the same,” the Austrian chancellor, Werner Faymann, said on Sunday.
Austria, a small country of 8.5 million people, has become a key transit state for hundreds of thousands of migrants and refugees entering the EU. Although most travel onwards, about 90,000 people requested asylum in Austria last year.Austria, a small country of 8.5 million people, has become a key transit state for hundreds of thousands of migrants and refugees entering the EU. Although most travel onwards, about 90,000 people requested asylum in Austria last year.
The influx has triggered tensions within the ruling centrist coalition between Faymann’s Social Democrats and the conservative ÖVP party. Although Faymann has noticeably sharpened his tone and called for tougher controls in recent weeks, he has resisted joining the ÖVP’s demand to cap migrant numbers. The influx has triggered tensions within the ruling centrist coalition between Faymann’s Social Democrats and the conservative ÖVP party. Although Faymann has noticeably sharpened his tone and called for tougher controls in recent weeks,he has resisted joining the ÖVP’s demand to cap migrant numbers.
The government will debate the situation at a national asylum summit on Wednesday.The government will debate the situation at a national asylum summit on Wednesday.