Race is on to finish border fence as Hungary tries to slam the door on migrants

Hungary is rushing to complete a fence on its border ahead of new laws intended to stem the influx of migrants this week. Almost 4,000 soldiers have been drafted in to get the barrier ready. Prisoners, dressed in neon vests as they trudged through the mud, have also been brought from a nearby jail to help, rolling out barbed wire. However, the fence is behind schedule despite laws which mean anyone entering the country illegally will be arrested from Tuesday.

This needs to be finished today. Starting September 15, every person who crosses the fence will be imprisoned

Hungarian police officer overseeing work on the fence

The first phase of the 4m high barrier along Hungary’s 175km (110-mile) border with Serbia was completed last month. It has done little to stop the flow as the number of migrants into Hungary reached another record on Saturday with more than 4,000 detained. Hardline prime minister Viktor Orban said German leader Angela Merkel’s decision to relax asylum laws, had caused “chaos” and accused European leaders of “living in a dream world”. He added: “These migrants are not coming our way from war zones but from camps in Syria’s neighbours… so these people are not fleeing danger and don’t need to be scared for their lives.”

The influx is endless: from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Mali, Ethiopia, Nigeria. If they are all going to come here, then Europe is going to go under.

Hungary prime minister Victor Orban