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Sunday, March 8, 2020

Fire damages Greek refugee center amid tensions at border

ATHENS — A fire broke out at a refugee center on the Greek island of Lesbos, Greece’s firefighting service said Sunday, destroying a warehouse but causing no injuries. It was the second fire at an installation for migrants, after a reception center was burned down by unknown perpetrators last Monday. The warehouse, which contained furniture and electrical appliances, was destroyed, a firefighting spokesman said on condition of anonymity. The blaze at the refugee center comes amid a tense standoff between Turkey and the European Union over who is responsible for the millions of migrants and refugees on Turkish territory and the thousands who have massed recently at the Greek border. The migrants headed for Turkey’s land border with EU member Greece after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government announced earlier this month that it would no longer prevent migrants and refugees from crossing over into EU countries. Greece has deployed riot police and border guards to repel people trying to enter the country and the Greek border area has since seen violent confrontations between them and the migrants. On Saturday, youths threw rocks at Greek police and tried to break down a border fence. In Istanbul on Sunday, Erdogan called on Greece to open its borders and allow the migrants to move on to other European countries. “These people won’t stay (in your country), they will move to other European countries,” Erdogan said. “Why don’t you open your gates, too, let them go to other other countries, and rid yourself of this burden.” The Greek government released a video purporting to show a Turkish armored vehicle trying to pull down part of border fence with a rope. It claimed the vehicle was partly purchased with EU border funds. The Associated...


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