Migrant crisis: Denmark suspends rail links with Germany after hundreds of refugees arrive by train

Part of the border between Denmark and Germany was briefly blocked tonight (9 Sept) as the rail network and some major roads between the two countries were sealed due to an influx of migrants. The refugees, mostly from Syria and Iraq, refused to leave a train when it arrived in Denmark because they don't want to be registered there. Most are heading to Sweden, which has promised to grant residency papers for all Syrian refugees.

Danish train operator DSB announced the cancellation of services to and from Germany due to the exceptional number of passport checks taking place. When some migrants were forced off a train at the Danish port of Roedby - which has ferry links with Germany - many set off walking, forcing the closure of the E45 motorway. A highway on Jutland was also closed when 300 refugees left a school where they had been sleeping and began walking north.

News of the border closure could have far-reaching implications as both Denmark and Germany are signatories to the Schengen Agreement, which was established to enable free movement across Europe, but is now thought to be under threat as a result of the migrant crisis. Migrants are supposed to seek asylum in the first EU country they arrive in and not travel between countries.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said he wants to introduce a compulsory quota system under which all EU members will take their share of migrants. In his annual state of the union address Juncker also said Europe shouldn't be alarmed by the crisis. "It is true that Europe cannot house all the misery in the world, but we have to put it into perspective. This still represents just 0.11% of the EU population. In Lebanon refugees represent 25% of the population."