Austrian authorities detain 93 refugees at Vienna railway station
Xinhua, August 21, 2015 Adjust font size:
Austrian authorities have detained 93 refugees from Syria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan at the Vienna Westbahnhof railway station on Thursday, local media reported.
The refugees including many families with children were on a crowded train originating in Hungary, with staff notifying the authorities who then boarded in Vienna. All persons, many of whom planned to travel on to Germany, were in possession of valid tickets.
A total of 45 of them were taken to a police detention centre in the city, while the remainder who wished to travel to Germany initially did not want to depart the train.
The train was then cordoned off while aid in the form of drinks and blankets was initially rejected until interpreters managed to assist. Despite some resistance, gradually the refugees were persuaded to leave the station, with 20 persons who had remained three hours later also then departing with police.
They will now undergo initial processing for their asylum claims, and be given food and water, said police spokesperson Roman Hahslinger. He said recently up to 150 asylum seekers have been apprehended in the national capital each day. Endit