Turkey’s Erdogan Says Europe Borders Open as Refugees Gather

Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday that his country’s borders with Europe were open, as thousands of refugees gathered at the frontier with Greece.

Greek border guards use tear gas to push back migrants who try to enter Greece at the Pazarkule border gate, Edirne, Turkey, on Feb. 29, 2020. Ismail Coskun/IHA via AP

ANKARA, Turkey—Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday that his country’s borders with Europe were open, as thousands of refugees gathered at the frontier with Greece.

Migrants played a cat-and-mouse game with Greek border patrols throughout the night and into Saturday, with some cutting holes in the fence only to be turned back by tear gas and stun grenades. Greek authorities also fired tear gas to repulse attempts by the crowd to push through the border.