Croatian Police Fire Tear Gas in Refugee Camp, Several People Injured

Croatian police have fired tear gas at refugees in the Opatovac transit center on the border with Serbia, injuring several people, including two children, volunteers at the scene told local media Wednesday.

BELGRADE (Sputnik) — According to the local N1 television channel, police resorted to using tear gas to suppress clashes between some of the refugees and law enforcement.

"The lack of information and the accumulated stress of the people who are traveling for weeks led to protests and created a tense atmosphere," a volunteer told the broadcaster, commenting on the reasons for the clashes.

Last week, Croatia closed traffic on seven of its eight land border crossings with neighboring Serbia, as authorities judged that the country could not handle any more refugees.

According to official statistics, at least 44,000 refugees have arrived in Croatia since September 16, mostly through its border with Serbia. Most of the refugees, who are fleeing war and poverty in the home countries in the Middle East and Northern Africa, hope to get to richer Western European countries, in particular Germany and Sweden.