Refugees protest arrest of fellow asylum-seekers

Around 80 refugees held a silent sit-down strike at the entrance to a refugee camp in Debrecen, E Hungary, on Thursday to protest against the arrests of fellow refugees who were detained following a fight the day before.

Police had to intervene on Wednesday to stop two fights that broke out in the camp. The refugees involved in the fighting were equipped with knives, spears and clubs and police had to use tear gas to halt the hostilities, the commander of the Hajdu-Bihar County police said. Police confiscated 16 knives, two pairs of scissors and 16 spears and clubs, he added.

Police arrested 10 fighters after the Wednesday altercations although several required prior medical attention.

A spontaneous protest broke out after the Wednesday arrests, when about 80 refugees marched on a communications relay station near the camp, and assaulted police who were attempting to protect it. Police eventually used tear-gas to disperse the crowd.

Police initiated preliminary detention for nine of the ten people arrested on Thursday, a police spokesperson told MTI. Participants in Thursday's sit-down strike varied from 5 to 80 but there was no more violence. Police are maintaining patrols at the camp.

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