Hundreds of migrants have occupied the main train station in Athens on Friday demanding to be allowed to travel north to join other migrants near Thessaloniki who attempted on Thursday to push toward the border with North Macedonia.
Migrant families, some holding babies, have staged a sit-in on the railway line at Larisis Station, preventing any trains from approaching or leaving the terminal.
Hundreds of passengers aboard trains to Athens have been stopped in various locations on the Greek railway network. System operator TrainOSE says that stranded passengers will continue their journeys on buses.
Meanwhile, new clashes erupted between riot police and migrants outside the Diavata reception camp near Thessaloniki, after dozens of women tried to break through the police cordon and were pushed back.
A local news website seleo.gr reported that traffic on Symmahiki Odos on the section near the camp is blocked.
Police forces remain outside the camp where about 500 migrants, including families with small children, have gathered since Thursday, following a call on social media to make a push for the border.
“I am appealing to those people right now… to return to the accommodation centers,” Greek Migration Minister Dimitris Vitsas told Greek state television ERT.
“It’s a lie that the borders will open,” he said. “In international treaties, there are obligations, but there are also sanctions,” he added.
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