Austrian riot police use batons, pepper spray against pro-refugee activists
Austrian police have used batons and pepper spray to push back a large crowd of angry pro-refugee activists, protesting controversial new controls on taking refugees, at a major crossing on the border with Italy.
The clashes broke out at the Brenner Pass, located on the border between the two EU countries, on Sunday, when several hundreds of demonstrators attempted to breach police barriers at the alpine pass.
Activists wore orange life jackets as a sign of solidarity with thousands of asylum seekers who lost their lives in the Mediterranean waters, trying to reach EU shores. They also used inflatable rubber dinghies as they pushed towards a long line of 300 riot police forces.
At least one demonstrator was arrested following the violent encounter.
Austria plans to tighten border controls at the pass from June 1 at the latest, in response to a massive influx of asylum seekers. Italy, however, believes the upcoming measures will breach EU rules on the free movement of people. The EU said last week it was assessing the complaint.
The Brenner Pass is the most important alpine crossing for heavy goods traffic and the controls.
Meanwhile, Austria's anti-immigration far-right party triumphed in the first round of Austria’s presidential ballot, almost two years ahead of the 2018 general elections. Norbert Hofer of the Freedom Party (FPOe) won 36 percent of the votes, while candidates from the two governing parties failed to even make it into a runoff on May 22.
The victory is seen as a sign of growing support for anti-immigration policies in Europe.
Europe is facing an unprecedented influx of refugees fleeing conflict-ridden zones in Africa and the Middle East, particularly Syria.
Many blame major European powers for the unprecedented exodus, saying their policies have led to a surge in terrorism and war in the violence-hit regions, forcing more people out of their homes.
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