Serb soldiers sent to the border to block migrants as fear grow that Europe is set to face a fresh surge of people trying to enter the continent

Migrants in Serbia has been growing since Hungary tightened its borders

Serbian PM will send soldiers to stop people crossing its borders illegally

Hungary claimed those trying to get to Western Europe are turning violent

Migrants became involved in a brawl at one of country's camps at weekend

By JOHN STEVENS FOR THE DAILY MAIL
PUBLISHED: 23:30 GMT, 21 July 2016 | UPDATED: 07:57 GMT, 22 July 2016


Serbian prime minister Aleksandar Vucic
announced he was sending soldiers to stop
people crossing its borders illegally

Serbia has sent soldiers to protect its borders as a fresh surge of people attempt to make their way across the continent.

Thousands of mostly economic migrants have arrived in the country as fears grow that Europe is about to face a dangerous new chapter in the crisis.

Hungary yesterday claimed those determined to get to Western Europe are increasingly turning to violence as they make their way through the Balkans.

Two-hundred migrants became involved in a brawl at one of the country's camps at the weekend, beating each other with pieces of smashed up furniture.

The warnings come as volatility in Turkey has raised concerns that thousands could start crossing to the Greek islands again this summer.

Serbian prime minister Aleksandar Vucic announced he was sending teams of soldiers and police officers to stop people crossing its borders illegally and to crackdown on smuggling gangs.

Officials believe around 2,700 migrants are currently in the country, but estimate over 85 per cent are from Afghanistan and Pakistan, with just a small number of Syrians.

The number of migrants in Serbia has been growing since Hungary, its northern neighbour, tightened its border controls earlier this month.

Mr Vuvic said those crossing illegally 'will be severely punished' to make it clear that the country is not willing to become a 'car park' for migrants the EU does not want.

'We have a situation where people from Afghanistan and Pakistan who do not have any chance of being admitted to the EU are coming through our territory trying to get there,' he said.

'Serbia is forced to protect its national interests and clearly show that it cannot be a car park for Afgans and Pakistanis that no one else in Europe wants.'

Hungary yesterday warned about violence amongst migrants after groups of Algerian, Syrians and Pakistanis turned on each other at a camp in Kiskunhalas, near the Serbian border.

Around 20 people fought with bare fists, before the situation escalated with around 200 using legs of broken furniture.

The Hungarian prime minister's chief security advisor, György Bakondi, yesterday said: 'An increasing number of migrants arriving to Serbia through Macedonia and Bulgaria are approaching the Hungarian border, and they are determined to continue their journey to Western Europe at any price, even by using violence.

'While in the first quarter of the year some 4,500 migrants attempted to cross Hungary's border, in the second quarter this figure amounted to 10,500, so an increasing trend can be observed.

'The fact that migrants are committing more and more violent acts poses a significant threat to public security: a number of incidents occurred in Hungary's reception centres.'

Hungarian officials have started sending back anyone caught on their territory within five miles of a 110-mile razor wire fence erected on the border.

Serb soldiers sent to the border to block migrants as fear grow that Europe is set to face a fresh surge of people trying to enter the continent