Croatia closes border crossings with Serbia over migrants: minister

There were desperate scenes at a railway station on Croatia’s eastern frontier with Serbia, where thousands were left stranded overnight under open skies.

The European Union has called an emergency summit next week to overcome disarray in the 28-nation bloc.

Croatian Interior Minister Ranko Ostojic said the country would close its border with Serbia if another 8,000 were to pour over the border in one day.

Police in Hungary, which is also in the EU’s Schengen zone of border-free travel, said about 500 migrants had been detained after crossing into the south of the country from Croatia on Thursday. “I find it freakish and shocking that certain esteemed global figures have stood on the side of people who for hours were throwing stones and pieces of cement at the Hungarian police“, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said.

Aleksandar Vulin, Serbia’s social affairs minister, said Serbia will take Croatia to global courts if the worldwide border crossings remain closed, arguing that it should have been prepared for the influx. Authorities warned them to avoid walking in those areas along the Serbian border that are still being demined from the country’s 1991-95 war.

By closing its border with Serbia by erecting a razor-wire fence, thousands of migrants have chose to go westwards via neighboring Croatia instead.

Now there seems no stopping this surge of humanity – including many people fleeing the Syrian conflict – despite Croatia saying it can’t take any more migrants.

Meanwhile, Slovenia said it stopped a group of refugees on a train at the border and would return them to Zagreb. Some arrived in buses, others by train. Some refused water in protest.

Budapest described the train’s unannounced arrival as a “major, major incident” – and alleged 40 police officers accompanying the migrants had to be disarmed and sent back.

He reiterated that Hungary would have to use the army as well to protect its borders.

The right-wing Orban has come under heavy criticism for Hungary’s treatment of the migrants, particularly over the police’s handling of clashes at the flashpoint Serbian border crossing of Roszke on Wednesday. Women screamed and children cried.

On Thursday, hundreds of refugees pushed through Croatian police lines in Tovarnik with people trampling and falling on each other amid the chaos.