Number of illegal migrants detained doubles

The country’s Foreigners' Police over the last week or so detained twice the usual number of illegal migrants after controls were increased. Before now, the police on average detained around 30 illegal migrants weekly; since police checks went up, 52 foreign nationals (mainly from Afghanistan and Syria) were stopped. The news was confirmed on Monday by police spokeswoman Kateřina Rendlová. Almost all of those detained were caught on trains from Austria, many in the Břeclav area but also in Prague and Pardubice.

Last Thursday, Interior Minister Milan Chovanec ordered a tightening of security along train routes and some motorways. The European Union is facing a massive increase in the number of refugees, largely through Italy and Greece. The European Commission has recommended quotas per member state. But the Czech government remains opposed to mandatory quotas, offering to help refugees in their own regions or refugee camps instead.

Author: Jan Velinger