Europe Braces for New Refugee Influx From Turkey

European countries close to Turkey were on the alert on Friday after Ankara said it was opening its borders for migrants and refugees who want to leave the country and cross into Europe.

Since Ankara announced the decision, thousands of mainly Middle Eastern refugees have flocked to cities close to the border with Bulgaria and Greece as well as to ports on the Aegean Sea.

Turkish media reported that refugees were heading to border cities in buses, taxis and other forms of transport. Because of the demand, some bus companies have introduced new lines.

The prospect of another massive wave of migrants and refugees has alarmed European countries closest to Turkey, starting with Greece and Bulgaria.

Both governments have announced that they will tighten border security on both land and sea. The Bulgarian Defence Ministry has deployed a thousand more soldiers on the Turkish border.

Greece has not sent additional troops to the border but said it has authorised its border guards to stop refugees from entering, after Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis briefed German Chancellor Angela Merkel on border security matters.

Media outlet Ekathimerini reported that guards on Greece's northeastern land border with Turkey made "deterrent use" of tear gas to disperse some 500 refugees and migrants trying to enter the country, after Ankara loosened controls on migrant flows.

According to one independent media outlet, Biz10, the Turkish authorities released refugees from prison and brought them to the Greek border in police vehicles, though this is unconfirmed.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said Turkey had not changed its overall refugee policy but that refugees were on move since they were worried because of the ongoing crisis in the region....

Continue reading on: