Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. HOMEPAGE

A Danish MP suggested shooting at boats carrying migrants to keep them away from Europe

afp 1400 saved in med as italy sees record migrant arrivals
Over 171,000 migrants have arrived on the coast of Libya, which beats the previous annual record of 170,100 from 2014. AFP

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Security forces should shoot at the boats of migrants trying to reach the European Union illegally, a member of parliament for the Danish government's main political ally, the Danish People's Party, suggested on national television.

Advertisement

"The only efficient way is to turn the boats and say: 'You cannot sail within this national border and if you do, you will either be shot at or be turned around and sailed back," Kenneth Berth, the EU spokesman for anti-immigrant party, said on broadcaster DK4 on Tuesday.

Berth later softened his statement on Facebook, saying he did not mean that people should be shot at, but that NATO-ships could shoot in the air as a warning.

Party spokesman Soren Sondergaard told Reuters that shooting at refugees is not the official party line.

The Danish People's Party got 21 percent of the popular vote in last year's general election, making it the second-largest party in parliament.

Advertisement

Denmark has implemented tough immigration policies since a heavy influx of refugees last year, including border control and a controversial "jewelry bill".

In August, the government proposed an emergency law, allowing it to reject asylum seekers at its borders.

Read the original article on Reuters. Copyright 2016. Follow Reuters on Twitter.
Racism
Advertisement
Close icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification.

Jump to

  1. Main content
  2. Search
  3. Account