Greece: Renewed clashes reported outside Diavata refugee camp April 6 /update 1

Event

Police and migrants clashed outside Diavata refugee camp, near Thessaloniki, on Saturday, April 6. Hundreds of migrants reportedly threw rocks at police who responded with tear gas to disperse the crowd. No casualties or arrests were immediately reported.

Similar clashes between migrants and police are possible in the area over the coming days and weeks.

Context

Hundreds of migrants arrived at the Diavata refugee camp on April 4, prompting clashes after the migrant group attempted to overrun a security cordon en route to European countries further north.

The clash follows calls on social media for migrants to push northward to European countries. Over 1 million migrants took a similar route through Greece and Balkan countries en route to Germany and other European nations before the path was blocked off in early 2016.

Advice

Individuals in the Diavata area are advised to monitor developments to the situation, avoid all demonstrations and large public gatherings as a precaution, and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities.