Armed conflict, one death between migrant groups near the Hungarian border

Violence broke out between two armed migrant groups near the Hungarian-Serbian border, close to Zombor. Zombor is a small town of almost 50 thousand residents, including amost 3,000 Hungarians. The incident happened on a bridge on the Bácska Great Canal (Bácskai Nagycsatorna) and left one dead. Media reports talk about ten partakers in the shootout.

Serbian media wrote about vendetta between two migrant groups on the Serbian side of the Hungarian-Serbian border. One of them died, while three illegal migrants were taken to hospital, Magyar Szó wrote. There are a lot of migrants stuck in North Serbia, close to the Hungarian border. They would like to enter the EU through Hungary, but Budapest built a fence in 2015 and 2016, so they cannot trespass. Therefore, they live in North Serbian cities and villages, many populated by indigenous Hungarian communities.

Hungarian government official slams the new Frontex head

Remarks by Hans Leijtens, the new head of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex, about the tasks of the agency “are dangerous” because they suggest that instead of protecting Europe’s borders, he wants to focus on providing legal services to illegal migrants, an interior ministry official said.

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Bence Rétvári said after a meeting of EU justice and home affairs ministers in Stockholm that illegal migration was among the topics discussed, and Hungary maintained the view that instead of opening up Europe, its borders must be protected.

Rétvári said Leijtens’ remarks were “very dangerous” because he “expressly attacked the notion of turning back illegal migrants at the borders”. Speaking as if Frontex were an immigration agency, the new leader considers it most important to work together with NGOs, and help illegal migrants, informing them about their rights, he added.