Thousands of migrants continue to reach Europe each day, but many fear the Paris attacks have wrecked their hopes of a new life, as states across the continent seek to counter fears that would-be terrorists are arriving as refugees.
Balkan states have confirmed a passport found near the body of one of the Paris attackers was carried by an asylum seeker who crossed the region last month, ramping up security concerns over Europe’s refugee crisis.
It is not clear whether what appears to be a Syrian passport is genuine – the trade in fake travel documents is booming – but Friday’s carnage added grim urgency to the debate over how the EU should handle an expected one million new arrivals this year.
Fuel for hatred
On trains and buses rumbling north into Europe, migrants fear the Paris bloodbath may prompt the EU to shut its doors to nearly all asylum seekers, and fuel hatred towards those who are allowed to stay.
"I think this will be very bad for us. I think we'll be deported," said Khodor Singer (25) from Lebanon, at a transit camp in Dobova, Slovenia, yesterday. "Most people think with the mainstream, and look for those who it's easiest to accuse. People are scared in Europe now, and that's a big problem for us."
Singer and his cousin, Mohammed Srougi, left Beirut before at least 44 people were killed last week in a double bombing in the city, for which Islamic State claimed responsibility. “We have had terrible attacks at home too, before Paris. We know what it’s like,” said Srougi (25).
“I hope people in Europe understand that what happened in Paris is not about Muslims or Christians. These people are terrorists – not all Muslims are like that.”
Waiting alongside the Lebanese cousins and dozens of other people in the camp was Mohammed from Somalia, who said he wanted to reach England and then have his wife and seven children join him.
Somalia comparison
“I am so sorry for what happened,” he said of Friday’s attack, which killed at least 129 people and injured hundreds more. “But this is terrorism, not religion. In Somalia there has been fighting for years, always violence. We need to find safety somewhere.”
However, the Paris atrocity has dramatically strengthened the case of states that oppose a German-led policy of open borders and distribution of refugees around the EU according to quotas.
"We'll accept [refugees only] if we have security guarantees. This is a key condition, and today a question mark has been put next to it all around Europe," said Konrad Szymanski, who became Poland's European affairs minister in a new right-wing government yesterday.
Slovak prime minister Robert Fico said yesterday close monitoring of Muslim refugees was essential because "virtually every time there has been a terrorist attack, representatives of the Muslims were responsible."
Security concerns
“Whoever wants to be a human rights activist should go to a human rights conference,” he added. “This is about security.”
Even in Germany, the mood seems to be shifting.
"The days of uncontrolled immigration and illegal entry can't continue just like that," said Markus Soeder, finance minister of Bavaria, the region through which most asylum seekers arrive in Germany.
“Paris changes everything,” he added.
In Croatia's Slavonski Brod transit camp last weekend, Syrian refugees urged Europe to unite against Islamic State – but keep its doors open to refugees.
“This is why we left our home, because of these killers,” said Farid from Deir-al-Zor, referring to Islamic State by an alternative name of Daesh. “Now in Europe too, it destroys,” he added. “But Europe is strong – it must kill Daesh.”
