Greek authorities have tightened police controls along the Serres-Promahon road following renewed tensions at a migrant camp near the Bulgarian border, where more than 100 migrants reportedly attempted to break out for the second time in a week.
The migrants tried to leave the facility by damaging parts of the camp and breaking through its perimeter fence. Police intervened and used tear gas to prevent them from escaping, according to camp security staff.
The group mainly consists of migrants from Egypt and Bangladesh. Under Greece's new migration legislation, they are not permitted to leave the camp because their claims for asylum are not considered eligible. The authorities are preparing to return them to their countries of origin.
Camp guards said more than 100 people took part in the latest attempt to leave the facility, but police managed to contain the situation and prevent a mass escape.
The incident follows another confrontation at the camp several days earlier. A court in Serres sentenced 23 migrants to 26 months in prison and fined each of them 3,000 euros after finding them responsible for attacking police guards with stones. Another 13 migrants who managed to escape during the earlier unrest remain wanted by authorities.
