Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
January 12, 2016
Germany is turning back more migrants at its border with Austria, particularly those from Afghanistan who Germany insists do not qualify for asylum, Austrian authorities said January 11.
Attacks on German women, allegedly by migrants, during the New Year’s holiday have put pressure on German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her open-door migrant policy
The number of migrants turned back has risen from about 60 per day in December to 200 since the start of the year, authorities said, adding that Germany’s tighter border control could be a knock-on effect from Sweden and Denmark tightening their borders.
Most of the rejected migrants have been Afghans who did not want to apply for asylum in Germany but in Scandinavia, they said. Others are from Iraq, Iran, Morocco, and Algeria.
Last week, Sweden, a favored destination for many migrants, started imposing controls on travellers from Denmark. Denmark in turn introduced spot checks on arrivals from Germany.
Austria meanwhile has tightened controls on its border with Slovenia, sending back 1,652 migrants since January 1, police said.
Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP