Hundreds of migrants waits for formal arrest in Greece

They are waiting for a formal arrest for hours on the basis of which they obtain temporary residence permits in the European Union.

Hundreds of migrants and refugees gathered in front of the police station in Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece. They are waiting for a formal arrest for hours on the basis of which they obtain temporary residence permits in the European Union.

Since the start of an offensive by the Turkish army in northern Syria in January and the conquest of the Afrino town held by the Kurds, the police in northern Greece have reported an increase in illegal border crossings. On the sidewalk in front of the police station, there are whole families, many of them from Syria, who came to Greece via Turkey. There is a long queue in front of the station, many in front of her or in the nearby park spend the whole night.

"We ran away from the war, we have proofs of identity. Now we expect them to take us somewhere we can stay, "24-year-old Muhammad Bassil, who flew from Africa with his wife, told AP. Most families are requesting a placement in one of the Greek refugee camps. Refugees from Syria and other countries struck by war are usually allowed to remain in the country for at least thirty days.

Police spokesperson Dimitris Beliakidis said that the number of newcomers in recent days has risen sharply due to the threat of a Western attack on Syria for the alleged use of chemical weapons, which eventually occurred on Saturday before daybreak.