Hundreds of Serbian officers were dispatched to the border area with Hungary after a shooting incident between migrants left three people dead and one injured. The violence near the Serbia-Hungary border has become increasingly common, with migrants hoping to cross into the European Union. Thousands of migrants have been camping in the area, seeking assistance from people smugglers.

Interior Minister Bratislav Gasic pledged that the police would remain in the area until those responsible for any criminal act or incident were removed. The police’s objective is to curtail irregular migration and improve security in the region, given the frequent clashes among migrants, often involving firearms.

On Saturday, the police detained two individuals from Kosovo suspected of smuggling migrants and providing them with weapons. Additionally, 54 Turkish passports were discovered. The police also reported detaining four Afghan and two Turkish nationals on Friday for suspected unlawful possession of firearms and explosives. It remains unclear whether any of the detained individuals will be charged in connection with the shooting.

The clash between groups of migrants occurred in abandoned farming warehouses near the village of Horgos. The injured migrant received medical assistance, and an investigation is underway. Details about the nationalities of the victims and the injured migrant are still unknown. The police raided the area and confiscated two automatic rifles and ammunition. They also discovered and transferred 79 migrants to reception centers.

Serbia’s border area with Hungary is located on the Balkan land route for migration from Turkey to Western Europe, passing through Greece, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Serbia, or Bosnia. Hungary has erected a razor-wire fence along its border with Serbia to prevent the inflow of migrants and has been pushing migrants back into Serbia. As a result, people smuggling operations in the border area have multiplied, leading to clashes for control.

Serbian police have conducted multiple raids in the border zone in recent months, arresting suspected people smugglers and seizing weapons. President Aleksandar Vucic stated that the military could be involved to address the situation.