A migrant battered by Hungarian police, with his child

Hungarian Foreign Minister, Peter Szijjarto has defended his country’s use of force against migrants, calling international criticism of the police use of tear gas and water, cannons bizarre and surprising.

Szijjarto said stones, bricks and pieces of concrete were thrown on Wednesday at Hungarian police officers guarding the border.

He added that those criticising the response, by law enforcement were encouraging those people who were committing a crime.

“These kinds of aggressive people will never be allowed to enter the territory of Hungary, not even for transiting purpose.

“The Hungarian police will protect itself, the border, no matter what kind of outrageous and surprising reactions we receive from the international political arena, Szijjarto said.

European Union Migration Commissioner, Dimitris Avramopoulos warned after meeting with Szijjarto in Budapest that violence was not the solution.

“Hungary has seen that constructing border walls only serves to divert migrant flows or escalate tensions, ‘’ Avramopoulos added.