Situation normalises as Danish police allow refugees to continue travels

AS waves of migrants arrived from Germany on Wednesday (September 9) claiming they were heading for Sweden, Denmark began closing down ferry routes, railways and major motorways linking the country to Germany.

Although Scandinavia’s busiest ferry route to Germany, a crossing between Puttgarden and Rody, is usually open to car and train passengers, operators suspended trips after two trains with about 350 refugees on board spent the day stuck in Rody.

Refugees refused to get off trains and demanded to be allowed to continue to Sweden and a large group was also found on foot on a motorway also claiming to be heading for Sweden.

Their reason is that if they are registered with Danish authorities they would have to apply for asylum in Denmark or return to Germany, yet many reportedly wish to reach Sweden as asylum conditions there are more generous, turning it into a top EU destination for Syrian refugees.

Eventually the issue was solved after about 100 people agreed to stay in Denmark while the remaining 250 from the two trains were allow to continue on their journey.

Although there has been no immediate reaction from the Danish government, police chief Jens Henrik Hoejbjerg reported on Thursday that officers have been ordered not to stop refugees entering the country, but stressed this was purely a police decision.