People smugglers use ancient donkey trails to establish new migrant route through the Alps after Austria tightens border controls and Switzerland deploys army
Donkey paths are being used to sneak migrants into Europe it has emerged
They lead through woods above Brenner Pass, connecting Italy and Austria
Every night migrants pay 200 euros to be led through the pass into Austria
It comes as officials warn 6,000 people have arrived from Libya in 72 hours
By John Stevens In Brussels and Jack Doyle for the Daily Mail
Published: 06:55 EST, 15 April 2016 | Updated: 11:52 EST, 16 April 2016
Migrants are paying smugglers to lead them along old Alpine donkey paths to sneak into northern Europe, it has emerged.
They are being charged 200 euros (£160) each to be guided on midnight treks between Italy and Austria.
Under the cover of darkness, groups of around 50 people are taken through tiny routes between soaring peaks to avoid detection by border guards.
It is believed people smugglers are now using old donkey trails to help migrants make their way into Europe
At the end of the 45-minute hike through woodland, the migrants emerge in the Austrian town of Gries, where they continue their journeys by car to Germany, Scandinavia or eventually Britain.
A sudden influx of people crossing the Mediterranean from North Africa to Italy has led to a surge in business for the people smugglers. Austrian authorities are now stepping up patrols in the area and have started work on building checkpoints on the Brenner pass – the main route by road between the two countries.
Fears were also growing last night of a new migrant crisis as a fresh surge of people attempted to cross the Mediterranean from North Africa. There are concerns that Italy could bear the brunt of new arrivals following EU measures to shut the route between Turkey to the Greek islands.
Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi was yesterday forced to insist his country was not facing an ‘invasion’ as 6,000 people arrived in just three days.
‘It is a big problem but we have clear ideas about how to deal with it,’ he said.
Mr Renzi claimed the number of boats arriving off Italy is ‘barely’ higher than last year. But figures revealed yesterday that 5,841 migrants have reached Italy by sea since Tuesday, with only 174 landing in Greece.
The International Organization for Migration said it was too early to assess whether the EU deal to return all arrivals in Greece back to Turkey was causing a shift in the patterns of movement.
More than 24,000 people have crossed into Italy so far this year, and forecasts suggest the country could face at least 100,000 migrants from North Africa for the third straight year.
David Cameron spoke to German Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday to discuss whether the deal with Turkey was ‘working as effectively as possible’. The PM’s official spokeswoman also admitted there are worries about a surge in migrants looking to cross from Libya to Italy this summer.
She said Mr Cameron wanted to make sure operations in the Mediterranean are ‘as robust as possible’.
Meanwhile, there are concerns that fresh violence in Syria will lead to even more refugees heading towards Europe. Aid group Human Rights Watch said at least 30,000 civilians have fled a new outbreak of fighting in the past 48 hours.
Pope Francis will today visit the Greek island of Lesbos to highlight the plight of refugees.
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