The migrants, already angry about the fact that Macedonia has started to erect a fence on the border, started throwing stones at police officers who were cordoning off the official checkpoint.
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Greek news agency Ana reported that Macedonian police fired stun grenades in the migrants’ direction. As a result, hundreds of migrants from other countries, including Iran and Pakistan, have gathered in and around the Greek border town of Idomeni, protesting and demanding passage.
The Moroccan man, one of those who have been banned from entering Macedonia, climbed on top of a stationary train carriage and touched a power cable overhead.
It was the latest clash since Macedonia and other Balkan countries on the migrant route began filtering refugees nearly two weeks ago, turning back those deemed “economic migrants”.
Tears rolled down the cheek of one unidentified protester as another man sewed multiple stitches into his lips.
Officials roped in Macedonian soldiers to help erect the barrier, which is similar to others recently built by Hungary and Slovenia on their southern borders.
Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis are flowing largely unimpeded across the Balkans having landed by boat and dinghy in Greece from Turkey.
Macedonia insists it is not closing the border completely.
A government spokesman said the aim of the fence was “to direct the inflow of people towards the controlled points for their registration and humane treatment”.
Europe is facing the worst refugee crisis since World War II as more than 850,000 people have entered the European Union countries this year with almost half of them entering Greece. “The border will remain open”.
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But Balkan countries, including Macedonia and Croatia, last week imposed new border restrictions, allowing passage only to people fleeing countries affected by war.
