Refugees storm border fence in Macedonia, face tear gassing by police
Macedonian police used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse hundreds of refugees, who tried to storm the fence on the country’s border with Greece.
The crowd, frustrated with restrictions imposed on travel through the Balkans, tore down the metal gate with a pole before the tear gas was deployed, Reuters cited an eyewitness as reporting.
#Greece: #Macedonia police uses tear gas as group of #migrants forces #Idomeni border fence. pic.twitter.com/rYm5smvadQ Video by @MSF_Sea
— José Miguel Sardo (@jmsardo) February 29, 2016
The confrontation in Idomeni, a small border community, follows a crush of asylum seekers who rushed toward the border after a rumor spread that the Macedonian authorities had opened the border for several hours. They were angered to find the rumor was not true and demanded to be let in.
fence is nearly broken!!! pic.twitter.com/YRofkMidCu
— Monika Kalinowska (@mkalinowskaa) February 29, 2016
🆘‼Moderate and traumatized #refugees who tried to storm the border of #Macedonia in #Idomeni. pic.twitter.com/ShuwAFSqb3
— Onlinemagazin (@OnlineMagazin) February 29, 2016
At least 22,000 refugees have been stranded in Greece, the primary destination for people fleeing violence and economic hardship in the Middle East and North Africa. The clog was caused by other countries restricting access to refugees, who want to pass them on their way to wealthier North European countries.
#migrants and refugees run after Macedonian police fired tear gas in Idomeni #Greece#AFP Photo by @lgouliampic.twitter.com/JQQeW1LKJX
— Aurelia BAILLY (@AureliaBAILLY) February 29, 2016
More protests this morning at #Idomeni - "open the border" call 1000s, many who have been waiting for days. pic.twitter.com/qLqXhTTF7c
— MSF Sea (@MSF_Sea) February 29, 2016