For a long time it remained unusually quiet on the illegal migration routes. Once again, accomplices of smuggling gangs are trying to bring refugees to Burgenland in cars via secret routes. A perpetrator was arrested in the Neckenmarkt and after his escape he was arrested by the police in Hungary.
A smuggler headed to Austria on Saturday evening with eight Syrians in the car. The journey took place via a secret route from the Hungarian border town of Harka to the Neckenmarkt. The illegal transport did not go unnoticed. The Turk (30) promptly quit the tour and ran to Hungary. He left the migrants in the car.
Arrested by police
The criminal didn’t get far. Hungarian patrol officers stopped the suspect in Harka, and an immediate check revealed him: the car key in his pocket matched the smuggler’s car! The eight refugees in the car were now taken to the Eisenstadt Competence Center. All Syrians have applied for asylum.
Fewer asylum applications
The number of arrests in Burgenland has fallen sharply since the end of October. The number of asylum applications is declining throughout Austria. In November, 2,537 applications were submitted – 9,433 (approximately 80%) fewer than in the comparable period of 2022. A total of 56,178 asylum applications were registered this year, a decrease of 47 percent compared to the first eleven months of the previous year.
“Austria is bucking the trend in Europe. By the end of September, more than a million asylum applications had been received in the EU, an increase of more than 25 percent,” the Ministry of the Interior said.
Syria tops the list
Most applications in November came from Syrians (1,405), followed by Afghans (202), Turks (160), Somalis (83) and Russians (72). Syrians also top the 2023 statistics: a total of 19,525 asylum applications, of which 3,013 were women and 9,067 were children.
The Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum relies on accelerated and urgent procedures, including 7,972 negative decisions. “In addition, 28,733 people avoided the procedure and left Austria,” the authority said. Nearly 10,600 deportations were carried out, of which 6,088 departed independently, the rest under duress.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
