Migrants clash with Greek police at border after Turkey opens floodgates

SUMMARY

Greek police fired tear gas to repel hundreds of stone-throwing migrants who tried to force their way across the border from Turkey on Sunday, with thousands more behind them after Ankara relaxed curbs on their movement.

By ReutersMar 2, 2020 9:56:31 AM IST (Published)

Migrants, who crossed from Turkey to Greece, are silhouetted as they walk on a road near the village of Kastanies, in the region of Evros, Greece. Greek police fired tear gas to repel hundreds of stone-throwing migrants who tried to force their way across the border from Turkey on Sunday, with thousands more behind them after Ankara relaxed curbs on their movement. REUTERS/Alexandros Avramidis

A Greek soldier carries barbed wire to reinforce the border fence at the Kastanies border crossing with Turkey's Pazarkule, as migrants who want to cross into Greece from Turkey gather at the borderline. The Greek government called the confrontations a threat to national security. "Do not attempt to enter Greece illegally - you will be turned back," Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Twitter after a security meeting on the situation. REUTERS/Alexandros Avramidis

Migrants walk towards Turkey's Pazarkule border crossing with Greece's Kastanies, near Edirne. Turkey said on Thursday it would let migrants cross its borders into Europe, despite a commitment to hold them in its territory under a 2016 deal with the European Union. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

Turkey's turnabout came after an air strike killed 33 Turkish soldiers in its neighbour Syria, and appeared to be an effort to press for more EU support in tackling the refugee crisis from Syria's civil war. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

At least 600 people had arrived by sea on the Greek islands of Lesbos, Chios and Samos close to the Turkish coast within a few hours on Sunday morning, police said. REUTERS/Huseyin Aldemir

Some migrants waded across a shallow section of the Evro River to the Greek side. Witnesses said there were groups of up to 30, including an Afghan mother with a five-day-old infant, by the side of a road after having forded the river. REUTERS/Huseyin Aldemir

Migrants gesture as they walk towards Turkey's Pazarkule border crossing with Greece's Kastanies, near Edirne. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

A police officer fires a tear gas canister with his launcher as Greek soldiers stand by, during clashes with migrants who want to cross into Greece from Turkey's Pazarkule border crossing, in Kastanies. REUTERS/Alexandros Avramidis

A hooded migrant who, along with other migrants wants to cross into Greece from Turkey's Pazarkule border crossing, prepares to throw a stone at a Greek riot police officer, in Kastanies. REUTERS/Alexandros Avramidis

The clashes occurred later in the day at the Kastanies crossing after riot police reinforced security there. No further details were immediately available as police were escorting reporters away from the scene, citing safety considerations. REUTERS/Alexandros Avramidis

A police officer loads a tear gas canister to his launcher during clashes with migrants who want to cross into Greece. REUTERS/Alexandros Avramidis