Germany steps up border controls with Poland and Czech Republic

Berlin's move is aimed at fighting illegal immigration amid a sharp rise in the number of asylum applications.

Transcript

00:00 The foundations of the Schengen Treaty crumbling at the heart of Europe.

00:05 Germany has become the latest country to beef up its border controls.

00:10 Berlin says it has increased security along the borders with Poland and the Czech Republic

00:15 to contain a sharp rise in illegal entries and asylum applications.

00:20 (German)

00:42 The announcement came a day after police raids in Germany found more than 100 Syrian citizens

00:47 inside apartments searched in connection with a smuggling ring.

00:50 On Tuesday, Poland also tightened its borders with Slovakia

00:54 and on Wednesday, Slovenia followed suit along its southern border with Croatia.

00:59 Germany's interior ministry says about a quarter of all migrants who reach Germany

01:04 are smuggled in across the Mediterranean Sea and the Balkans routes.

01:08 (whooshing)