Hungary blocks entry of nearly 600 irregular migrants over past 3 days

By Mehmet Yilmaz

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AA) - Hungary’s security forces have prevented nearly 600 irregular migrants from entering the country in the last three days, police said on Monday.

In a statement, the police said as many as 589 migrants were turned away from the borders.

Some 1,295 migrants were blocked from entering the country on Jan. 24-30 and 1,872 others between Jan. 31 and Feb. 6, added the statement.

Also, at least 21 people were detained on suspicion of human smuggling over the last week.

Hungary has set up a barbed-wire fence along its borders with Serbia and Croatia in an attempt to stop irregular migrants, declaring a state of emergency in border areas and increasing penalties for illegal crossings.