Hungarian Prime Minister announces closure of border with Croatia

The government has set up a crisis body to deal with the thousands of migrants who began transiting through Croatia after Hungary closed its border with Serbia and imposed a crackdown on migrants earlier in the week. The migrants would prefer the quicker route to Europe through Hungary, instead of taking the longer route through Slovenia.

Croatia has closed seven of its eight road border crossings with Serbia following a huge influx of migrants.

Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic called on the army to be on alert and act if needed to protect the border from the migrants, after chaos erupted Thursday on the border with Serbia in a rush to get on the few available buses and trains, the AP said.

“The migrants can be seen entering Croatia around several crossing points”, police said, putting the figure since early Wednesday at 5650. We can not control it anymore.

Slovenia Prime Minister Miro Cerar tweeted Thursday that his country is committed to protecting the EU’s external borders.

About 100 people have already crossed into Slovenia from Croatia and were being held at a makeshift processing centre in the border town of Brežice.

Reporting from the Croatia-Serbia border, Lauren Frayer spoke to Jamal al-Shahoud, a refugee from Syria, who told her, “Here no food, no water”.

Thousands of migrants have begun pouring into Croatia, setting up a new path toward Western Europe after Hungary used tear gas and water cannons to keep them out of its territory. A large group started toward Osijek on foot this morning, where they will take buses and trains to Zagreb, and then proceed toward Slovenian, Croatian media are reporting.

Serbia Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic accused Hungary of a “non-European” and “brutal” response to the migrant crisis in an appearance on Serbian state television.

Police said Friday that 453 illegal immigrants were detained in Baranya county next to the Croatian border by midnight (2200 GMT), mostly Syrians and Afghans. He appealed to the European Union to step in and help.

People broke through police lines and ran into the countryside.

Amid chaotic scenes in Croatia, hundreds of asylum seekers surged past security forces on Thursday to continue their journey to Western Europe.

Croatia says of those registered there so far, 60% were refugees and 40% economic migrants. The centers could register and screen those arriving, the United Nations agency said.