6,597 people had been apprehended at the Hungary-Serbia border since January 1

Kelebia, Serbia. Photo: MTI

The number of attempts for illegal entry along Hungary’s southern borders “showed a massive increase” in the first two months of the year, Gyorgy Bakondi, chief security advisor to the prime minister, told MTI on Monday.

Bakondi said that

6,597 people had been apprehended at the Hungary-Serbia border since January 1, compared with 1,315 in the same period of 2018 and 1,534 last year.

The advisor noted that 465 illegal migrants attempted to cross the Hungary-Romania border in the same period, up from a mere 12 in 2018 and 33 in 2019.

Bakondi added that at present there were 321 migrants in Hungary’s transit zone, while legal proceedings were under way against 86 suspected people smugglers.

As we wrote, Hungary has protected its borders and will continue to do so, Péter Szijjártó, the foreign minister, said on Facebook on Sunday after speaking to his Greek counterpart Nicos Dendias by phone. Details HERE.