Hungarian police have stopped a train full of refugees bound for the Austrian border. Other passangers were taken off to board a replacement train, while police attempted to have the refugees disembark at the Hungarian town of Bickse, where there is a migrant detention centre.
The Gulf Today reports that some of those on board were banging on the windows chanting “no camp, no camp”, referring to the detention centre.
More than 2,000 migrants have been waiting outside Budapest’s main station to board trains to Germany and Austria, although few intercity trains are running. Viktor Orban, the Hungarian Prime Minister, has said that the crisis is a “German problem” and that Europe has a moral imperative not to encourage refugees. Speaking in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Orban has talked of defending Europe’s “Christian values” against a “flood” from overseas.
ITV’s Europe Editor, James Mates, has followed the train in Hungary and is posting updates via Twitter. He reports that it initially left Budapest station with most of those on board assuming it would continue to Austria:
Train full of refugees departs Budapest station. Most on board think it’s going to Austria. Strongly suspect it isn’t.
— James Mates (@jamesmatesitv) September 3, 2015
Things could get interesting when those on board this train realise they’re being taken somewhere else in Hungary. #migrantcrisis
— James Mates (@jamesmatesitv) September 3, 2015
The train was then stopped in Bickse, around 30 miles outside Budapest, where riot police were there to meet it.
Train has stopped at small town 30 miles down the line. Reception party of dozens of police. This may be end of line pic.twitter.com/tDQEpS6eur
— James Mates (@jamesmatesitv) September 3, 2015
All Europeans taken off train. Refugees realising they’re not going to Austria. Riot police stop anyone getting off. pic.twitter.com/i1tHiq5mRv
— James Mates (@jamesmatesitv) September 3, 2015
As the refugees realised that they weren’t going to get to Austria, they began to protest, and were corralled by riot police:
Behind the riot police 100+ refugees have been corralled. Say the won’t be taken to camps. Rest held on train pic.twitter.com/NZG9KCkkB8
— James Mates (@jamesmatesitv) September 3, 2015
Man and wife with tiny baby throw themselves onto track demanding not to be taken to camps. Getting c distressing pic.twitter.com/ploEd11rAH
— James Mates (@jamesmatesitv) September 3, 2015
Ultimately, the police were unable to force the refugees to go to the camp, and had to let them reboard the train.
Hungarian police failed to control those they wanted to take to the camp. Forced to let them back onto train. pic.twitter.com/4yQqVaEwI6
— James Mates (@jamesmatesitv) September 3, 2015
The train is now waiting in the station. Police are now handing out bottled water, but it’s unclear what will happen next.
So all refugees back on train. Broiling hot sun. No water, no food. Refugees defiant after forcing police to back down. What on earth now?
— James Mates (@jamesmatesitv) September 3, 2015
Police now handing bottled water to those on train. Some shouting ‘we don’t need water, we need to leave’ pic.twitter.com/J3Kue9dAJb
— James Mates (@jamesmatesitv) September 3, 2015
Follow James Mates on Twitter here.
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