Poland Increases Security on Border with Belarus after Threat of Migrants Increases

Poland is stepping up security measures on its border with Belarus (the European Union's eastern border) after reports that a large group of migrants in Belarus have headed to a checkpoint on the Polish-Belarusian border, world news agencies reported, citing official sources.

Border Service spokeswoman Evelina Szczepanska said the number of border guards, police and soldiers at the border has increased. She noted that videos posted on the internet show migrants advancing to the Kużnica border crossing in northeastern Poland.

Polish security spokesman Stanislaw Zharin posted a video on Twitter showing several hundred people walking along the road.

"There is a lot of disturbing information from the border. A large group of migrants has gathered in Belarus, near the border with Poland. They are heading to the border with Poland. They will try to infiltrate Poland en masse," spokesman Jarin said on Twitter.

"New information we have received shows that the group is under the strict control of armed Belarusians. They decide in which direction to take the group," he added in another tweet.

"The Polish services are prepared for any possible situation," wrote Maciej Wonszyk, deputy interior minister.

Footage also posted on Twitter by the Belarusian opposition group Nexta shows groups of hundreds of people in warm clothes and backpacks walking along the road. The signal signs along the road are in Belarusian.

Belarusian border guards have confirmed that at the moment, a large group of refugees carrying personal belongings is moving on the highway to the border with Poland.

The EU accuses Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko of organizing a wave of migrants and refugees, mainly from the...