Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Migrants near the Hungarian border in Croatia early this morning AP Photo/Darko Bandic
migrant crisis

Croatia closes borders after 'mayhem' of migrants breaking through police lines

The country experienced an influx of people after Hungary introduced tougher measures earlier this week.

CROATIA CLOSED SEVEN of the country’s eight border crossings with Serbia “until further notice” yesterday, following a massive influx of migrants and refugees.

“Traffic is banned on the border crossings of Tovarnik, Ilok, Ilok 2, Principovac, Principovac 2, Batina and Erdut,” the interior ministry said in a statement.

More than 11,000 migrants have entered Croatia from Serbia since early Wednesday, the ministry added.

Yesterday evening crowds broke through police lines at the Serbia border after waiting for hours in stifling heat.

BBC reporter Fergal Keane, who’s at the scene at Tovarnik, detailed the developments on Twitter. People were pushing at police to get through before “mayhem” broke out, he said.

The migrants began heading for Croatia after Hungary sealed its border with Serbia earlier this week, cutting off a key route into the EU used this year by more than 200,000 migrants, many of them fleeing violence in the Middle East and Afghanistan.

Croatia had said it would let people pass through freely on their way to other European Union countries — but Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic warned his country’s resources for dealing with the influx were “limited”.

Piling on the pressure, Slovenia announced late yesterday that it had stopped a train from Croatia carrying migrants, saying some 150 passengers would be returned to Zagreb because they did not have the necessary documents for onward travel.

Slovenia later suspended all train traffic between Slovenia and Croatia until Friday morning, Slovenian news agency STA reported.

- © AFP, 2015

Read: ‘Mayhem’ as crowds of migrants break through police lines in Croatia

Also: Google is doing its bit to help ease the migrant crisis today

Your Voice
Readers Comments
123
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.