Kastanies

Greek authorities fired tear gas and stun grenades to drive away a crowd of migrants making a push to cross the border from Turkey on Wednesday, as pressure on Greece continued after Turkey declared its previously guarded gateways to Europe open.

Greek police fired tear gas to repel hundreds of stone-throwing migrants who once more tried to force their way across the border from Turkey on Wednesday morning.
Clashes at the border crossing by the northeastern Greek town of Kastanies have been ongoing since Ankara's announcement late last week that it would no longer stop Syrian refugees trying to reach European soil.

The presidents of the executive European Commission, the European Council and the European Parliament - Ursula von der Leyen, Charles Michel and David Sassoli - were joined by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis as they took a helicopter tour of the country's land border with Turkey.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis today briefed US President Donald Trump on the threat to Greece's sovereignty from mounting waves of migrants and refugees from Turkey.

Athens charges that the migrants have been encouraged and coordinated by Ankara and is determined to protect its borders.

Greek police fired tear gas to repel hundreds of stone-throwing migrants who tried to force their way across the border from Turkey on March 1, with thousands more behind them after Ankara relaxed curbs on their movement.

A man believed to be linked to the Islamic State terrorist organization was late on Monday stranded in the buffer zone on the Greek-Turkish border, according to reports. 

In a statement, the Greek Police (ELAS) said that a US citizen of Arab origin was brought to a Greek border post by Turkish officers who cited the expiry of his visa and asked Greek authorities to take him in.

Justice Minister Stavros Kontonis expressed his dismay at the continued detention of two Greek servicemen who were arrested in early March for straying into Turkish territory during a border patrol, citing the lawful response of Greek authorities to similar cases involving three Turkish nationals.

A 38-year-old Turkish man who was arrested last week at Greece's northeastern border was deported to Turkey on Saturday.

The man, a municipal employee in the Turkish border town of Edirne, was carrying out construction work when he was apprehended last Wednesday on the Greek side of the border near the village of Kastanies and charged with illegal entry.

A Turkish national arrested by Greek police and army officers on Wednesday afternoon at the northeastern border village of Kastanies, after crossing into Greek territory, was charged with illegal entry into the country.

A Turkish man was arrested by Greek police and army officers on Wednesday afternoon at the northeastern border village of Kastanies, after crossing into Greek territory.

The man is an employee at the municipality of Edirne who was carrying out construction work near the Turkish customs office in the area when he strayed across the border.