Poland steps up patrols as migrants attempt to storm border with Belarus

Hundreds of people have tried to storm the border from Belarus into Poland, using branches and cutting through razor wire in an effort to climb over fences.

Belarusian border officials insisted the migrants were simply exercising their rights to apply for refugee status in the EU.

European Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen has described the situation as “unacceptable”, calling on EU states to approve extended sanctions on Belarus.