Hungarian police contain riot in overcrowded refugee camp

(Vatican Radio) Hungarian police have fired tear gas to contain a riot at an overcrowded refugee camp in the eastern city of Debrecen, which was sparked by a religious dispute, law enforcement officials said.

Riot police called as reinforcements fired tear gas to quell the riot and push a group back into the camp, according to witnesses.

Listen to Stefan Bos’ report:

Police said one man had been detained in custody while one police officer was injured by a stone-thrower.

The fighting reportedly broke out Monday after one migrant ran off with another's copy of the Koran, deemed a holy book by Muslims,and trampled on it.

Several hundred other asylum-seekers soon joined the riots, which spilled out of the camp. Security forces soon surrounded the area.

CARS DAMAGED

Police said some cars in the parking lot were damaged and garbage bins set on fire. However police spokesman Dénes Dobó later told reporters that security forces managed to entered the camp. He said 150 police "are inside the camp to provide security" and restore calm 

The latest riots have underscored concerns in Hungary over the influx of refugees. Hungarian authorities say more than 60,000 migrants entered the country illegally this year alone, compared to 43,000 in the whole of 2014.

Refugees, many from the Middle East, Africa and Asia,  arrive via neighboring Serbia. Amid the turmoil, authorities said the Debrecen camp would be temporarily closed to new arrivals, while restrictions would be placed on movement in and out.

Debrecen Mayor László Papp explained that the camp will eventually be closed. He added that he "fully agrees" with a controversial government plan to build a four meter high fence along Hungary's 175-kilometer long border with Serbia.

Human smugglers have added to the problems. Last Friday, Hungarian police reportedly discovered more than 100 migrants who nearly suffocated as they were locked up in a truck in the sweltering heat. A smuggler had abandoned them near the Serbian border.