ADVERTISEMENT

Prisoners complete part of new anti-migrant fence

Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced the plans for a second fence line in August to reinforce the existing barrier.

Prisoners build a new, second fence at the Hungarian-Serbian border near Gara village on October 27, 2016

Hungarian prisoners have finished building the first part of a second anti-migrant fence on Hungary's southern border with Serbia, state television reported on Monday.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced the plans for a second fence line in August to reinforce the existing barrier erected last year along the 175-kilometre-long (110-mile-long) border.

The risk that the European Union's deal earlier this year with Turkey to stem the flow of migrants might not last means Hungary needs to strengthen its border defences, Orban said.

Orban has emerged as the standard-bearer of those opposed to German Chancellor Angela Merkel's "open-door" policy, in the wake of Europe's worst migration crisis since World War II.

ADVERTISEMENT

Dubbed a "smart fence" by local media due to its high-tech features, construction by prisoners of the three-metre-high (10-feet) and 10.3-kilometre-long (6.4 mile-long) barrier began a month ago.

The new fence is equipped with heat and movement sensors, as well as night cameras installed at regular intervals, according to media reports.

When fully built it is expected to cut the numbers of troops and police officers required to patrol the border, said the M1 pubic television news channel.

The government will decide later on when the rest of the fence line will be built, said the channel.

In 2015 over 400,000 migrants trekked through Hungary, a border of the EU's passport-free Schengen zone, toward northern Europe.

ADVERTISEMENT

After the first fence line was completed in September last year, and another one along the Croatian border a month later, the number of migrants entering Hungary slowed to a trickle.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

Perpetrators must face the law - Plateau com demands Justice for minor's murder

Perpetrators must face the law - Plateau com demands Justice for minor's murder

Peter Obi breaking fast with Muslims in Abuja mosque gets Nigerians talking

Peter Obi breaking fast with Muslims in Abuja mosque gets Nigerians talking

Video of weird school competition shows young students licking one another's feet

Video of weird school competition shows young students licking one another's feet

UniCal records highest number of first class graduates in 49 years

UniCal records highest number of first class graduates in 49 years

Army announces names of 17 soldiers killed in shocking Delta attack

Army announces names of 17 soldiers killed in shocking Delta attack

Ooni wants Ile-Ife, Modakeke indigenes to live together peacefully

Ooni wants Ile-Ife, Modakeke indigenes to live together peacefully

'Politics is not about being negative every time' — Peter Obi

'Politics is not about being negative every time' — Peter Obi

Army thinks Okuama community planned shocking murder of 16 soldiers in Delta

Army thinks Okuama community planned shocking murder of 16 soldiers in Delta

27,600 Benue women to receive grants, loans for business growth, self reliant

27,600 Benue women to receive grants, loans for business growth, self reliant

Pulse Sports

Super Eagles Bright Osayi-Samuel punches pitch invader as violence erupts following Trabzonspor vs Fenerbahce

Super Eagles Bright Osayi-Samuel punches pitch invader as violence erupts following Trabzonspor vs Fenerbahce

Naija Stars Abroad: Moffi, Chukwueze battle Oshoala, Echegini for POTW

Naija Stars Abroad: Moffi, Chukwueze battle Oshoala, Echegini for POTW

Report: Super Eagles get new coach for Ghana and Mali clash

Report: Super Eagles get new coach for Ghana and Mali clash

Osimhen misses out on N17b payday after Napoli's UCL loss to Barcelona

Osimhen misses out on N17b payday after Napoli's UCL loss to Barcelona

‘Thank you’ - Osimhen’s girlfriend Stefanie Ladewig grateful for being the mother of his child

‘Thank you’ - Osimhen’s girlfriend Stefanie Ladewig grateful for being the mother of his child

4 reasons why Victor Osimhen should choose Arsenal over Chelsea, Manchester United and PSG

4 reasons why Victor Osimhen should choose Arsenal over Chelsea, Manchester United and PSG

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT