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Europe Locks Down Greece Border, Blames Turkey For Migrant Crisis

Henry Ridgwell

   LONDON - The European Union has pledged over $780 million to help
   Greece cope with a surge in the number of migrants trying to cross into
   the country from Turkey, as the bloc fears a repeat of the 2015 refugee
   crisis.

   Greece has closed down the land border and ramped up security around
   islands in the Aegean Sea close to Turkey. Athens and the EU say Ankara
   is fully to blame for the crisis, as tens of thousands of migrants
   remain camped out along the border.

   Turkish authorities released video Tuesday appearing to show Greek
   security forces firing into the water close to a migrant boat off
   Lesbos Island.

   Meanwhile, Greece released its own video purporting to show a Turkish
   government patrol boat apparently helping a dinghy full of migrants
   cross towards Lesbos island.

   Greece is deploying soldiers and military hardware along the frontier.
   Athens received a show of solidarity Tuesday as the presidents of the
   European Union Commission, Council and Parliament joined the Greek
   prime minister on a visit to the land border.

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