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| Greek police clash with migrants after 'fake news' border movement | Greek police clash with migrants after 'fake news' border movement |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Greek police have scuffled with hundreds of migrants who gathered near the northern city of Thessaloniki hoping to enter North Macedonia. | Greek police have scuffled with hundreds of migrants who gathered near the northern city of Thessaloniki hoping to enter North Macedonia. |
| The trouble erupted at Diavata, a migrant camp, after a rumour spread on social media suggesting that a border crossing would be opened for migrants. | The trouble erupted at Diavata, a migrant camp, after a rumour spread on social media suggesting that a border crossing would be opened for migrants. |
| The Greek newspaper Kathimerini says dozens of migrants are protesting on the tracks at Athens's Larissa station, forcing a suspension of rail services. | The Greek newspaper Kathimerini says dozens of migrants are protesting on the tracks at Athens's Larissa station, forcing a suspension of rail services. |
| Many are refugees from the Middle East. | Many are refugees from the Middle East. |
| Reports say some migrants outside the official Diavata camp hurled sticks and stones at police, who responded with tear gas. | |
| Greek media describe as "fake news" the Facebook story about plans for an organised crossing of the North Macedonia border. | Greek media describe as "fake news" the Facebook story about plans for an organised crossing of the North Macedonia border. |
| About 600 spent the night camping in a field outside the Diavata camp, and there were more clashes in the morning as police blocked the route to the north. | About 600 spent the night camping in a field outside the Diavata camp, and there were more clashes in the morning as police blocked the route to the north. |
| Read more on related topics: | Read more on related topics: |
| Speaking to the BBC by phone, a Kurdish migrant from Iraq, 25-year-old Bilal Jaf, said "the situation is tense in Diavata camp now - we're afraid that the police will try to evacuate our makeshift camp. | Speaking to the BBC by phone, a Kurdish migrant from Iraq, 25-year-old Bilal Jaf, said "the situation is tense in Diavata camp now - we're afraid that the police will try to evacuate our makeshift camp. |
| "I live in Greece for 11 months, waiting my asylum request to be examined and I don't know for how long should I wait for that." | "I live in Greece for 11 months, waiting my asylum request to be examined and I don't know for how long should I wait for that." |
| Karzan Abdullah, 24, also an Iraqi Kurd, said: "I live in Greece for 12 months - I have to go on in Europe, because there is no life here anymore. | Karzan Abdullah, 24, also an Iraqi Kurd, said: "I live in Greece for 12 months - I have to go on in Europe, because there is no life here anymore. |
| "We are informed that the Greek-North Macedonian border will open today for us. My friends who also want to join the caravan are blocked by the police in Athens railway station." | "We are informed that the Greek-North Macedonian border will open today for us. My friends who also want to join the caravan are blocked by the police in Athens railway station." |
| Legacy of 2015 crisis | Legacy of 2015 crisis |
| Tens of thousands of migrants remain in overcrowded camps in Greece, having arrived there in huge numbers in 2015-2016. They include many Afghans, Syrians and Iraqis. | Tens of thousands of migrants remain in overcrowded camps in Greece, having arrived there in huge numbers in 2015-2016. They include many Afghans, Syrians and Iraqis. |
| In that crisis Germany took in more than 800,000 asylum seekers - an issue that remains very controversial. International law grants a right of asylum for refugees fleeing war or persecution. | In that crisis Germany took in more than 800,000 asylum seekers - an issue that remains very controversial. International law grants a right of asylum for refugees fleeing war or persecution. |
| The influx declined rapidly after Turkey reached a deal with the EU to intercept migrant boats and Balkan countries imposed tight border restrictions. | The influx declined rapidly after Turkey reached a deal with the EU to intercept migrant boats and Balkan countries imposed tight border restrictions. |
| In 2016, a sprawling tent city formed at Idomeni, on the Greece-North Macedonia border. It was later cleared by Greek police and the migrants were redistributed to various official camps. | In 2016, a sprawling tent city formed at Idomeni, on the Greece-North Macedonia border. It was later cleared by Greek police and the migrants were redistributed to various official camps. |