Tear gas fired as migrants clash with police at Macedonian border

A man holds a child near a police blockade at the Greek-Macedonian border Credit: APTN

Macedonian police have fired tear gas and stun grenades to disperse thousands of migrants trying to enter the country from Greece.

People could be heard screaming as some 3,000 migrants attempted to charge at police lines after they were left stuck in 'no-man's land' when the Greek-Macedonian border was shut.

A number of people were injured and required medical treatment after being crushed, witnesses said.

Macedonia declared a state of emergency yesterday as it attempted to deal with the growing influx of migrants trying to reach northern Europe.

The country has now announced it will allow a limited number of "vulnerable" migrants enter the country.

Chaotic pictures from the scene showed one youngster bleeding from what appeared to be shrapnel from the stun grenades that were fired directly into the crowd.

A man with injuries to his legs at the border where police stand guard Credit: Reuters
Tensions rose between migrants and police when the border was blocked to thousands of migrants Credit: Reuters
Migrants carry an injured man after clashes with Macedonian police Credit: Reuters

The standoff on the Greek-Macedonian border is the latest flashpoint in what the EU said last week was the biggest migration crisis the continent has faced since World War II.

A spokesperson for the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) told ITV News that it is concerned about the "increasingly precarious" situation at the Greek-Macedonia border.

Migrants gather in 'no man's land' as police stop them from entering Macedonia Credit: Reuters
Girls cry as they get separated from their family at the border. Credit: Reuters
People react as they are held back by police. Credit: Reuters

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres, spoke with Macedonia's Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki on Friday to seek "assurances that the border will not be closed in the future".

"UNHCR appeals to the government to put in place mechanisms necessary to establish an orderly and protection-sensitive management of its borders," a spokesperson said.