EU at BREAK POINT: Thousands of migrants smash through European border with BATTERING RAM

http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/648412/migrants-Greece-Macedonia-border-fence

THOUSANDS of migrants have smashed through the border fence separating Greece and Macedonia with battering rams as European countries attempt to quell the flow.

By Alix Culbertson

PUBLISHED: 10:42, Mon, Feb 29, 2016 | UPDATED: 13:32, Mon, Feb 29, 2016

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Athena

Tear gas was deployed at migrants trying to break through the border

About 8,000 migrants were stuck on the Greek side of a fence erected by Macedonia in a bid to stop the flow of refugees and asylum seekers.

On Monday morning frustrated migrants used home-made battering rams to break through the fence in Idomeni.

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Macedonian authorities deployed tear gas bombs into the crowd of migrants, including children who were heard crying.

A witness said Macedonian police fired several rounds of tear gas into crowds who tore down the metal gate and spilled onto a railway line where migrants had sat refusing to move, demanding to cross into the country.

Athena

The migrants were getting angry after not being let through the border

There were an estimated 8,000 people gathered at Idomeni, the small frontier community on Greece's border with Macedonia. Most were Syrians and Iraqis.

The numbers had swelled from 6,500 people on Saturday after four Balkan countries announced a daily cap on migrant arrivals.

Earlier on Monday, a crush had developed along the frontier after rumours spread that Macedonian authorities had opened the border after several hours of it remaining sealed shut.

Crowds who gathered at the razor wire fence proceeded to use a heavy metal pole to bring down a gate by digging beneath the barrier and using force to push it up and out.

Athena

Children were hit by tear gas as their families pushed through the fence

Athena

Thousands of migrants pushed through the border

At least two people collapsed in the crush and ensuing use of tear gas, television images showed.
At least 22,000 refugees and migrants have been stranded in Greece in the past week since border restrictions began along other countries in the Balkan corridor used by individuals to get to central and northern Europe.

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