Syrian refugees cross into Hungary underneath the border fence on the Hungarian – Serbian border near Roszke
Clambering over razor wire or scuttling under it, a growing tide of migrants surged across the Serbian border into Hungary yesterday, impatiently jostling to complete the formalities of entering the country.
In Roszke, a Hungarian border town where migrants requesting asylum were being processed by authorities, police used tear gas to break up a brief scuffle involving about 200 migrants.
Police said the scuffles broke out because migrants’ impatience with delays in the registration process caused by the growing number of arrivals.
By 0730 GMT yesterday, already 1,302 migrants had been detained at the southern border with Serbia, Karoly Papp, Hungary’s national police chief, said in Budapest, the Hungarian capital.
Police said that 2,533 migrants were detained on Tuesday, up from 2,093 on Monday and by far the highest figure of the year. After requesting asylum and registering with authorities, migrants are sent to one of Hungary’s refugee centers. Most, however, try to quickly leave for richer EU countries like Germany or Sweden.
Authorities promised further steps to try to secure the border, but not right away.
Papp said six police units of 2,106 “border hunters” would be deployed from Sept. 15, with helicopters, police dogs and patrols on horseback taking part in the security efforts along the border.
“The organization, equipment and great mobility of the border guard units … will decrease the security risks caused by the massive illegal migration,” Papp said, adding that water cannons would also be sent to Szeged, the largest city in the Hungarian-Serbian border zone. Bela Szandelszky, Roszke, AP
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