Record number of migrants cross Europe

Röszke, September 10

Europe was increasingly divided over its refugee crisis as record numbers of migrants streamed through the Balkans into Hungary today, forcing Austria to suspend cross-border train services.

Germany warned that a European Union plan to distribute 160,000 new arrivals among member states was a mere “drop in the ocean”, but it faces stiff opposition from eastern members who say they will not accept binding quotas from Brussels.

Hungarian police said 3,321 people had entered in just 24 hours, hurrying to cross before harsh new anti-migrant laws take effect, an imposing new fence is completed, and the weather worsens.

Across the border in Serbia, state television reported that a record 5,000 people had arrived at the frontier.

Further south, on Macedonia’s border with Greece, AFP journalists saw some 50 buses transporting around 2,500 migrants and three trains packed with 3,000 people departing from the town of Gevgelija.

The United Nation’s refugee agency on Tuesday warned that at least 42,000 migrants were expected to enter Hungary by next week.