Austrian soldiers start carrying out checks for refugees and migrants at border with Italy

An Austrian soldier stands guard during border controls at a highway toll station CREDIT: REUTERS

Austrian soldiers have been deployed to the border with Italy for the first time to block illegal migrants.

The measure, which was announced by Vienna last month is a significant escalation of border security and comes ahead of elections in October in which the government will try to head off a challenge from Right-wing, anti-immigration parties.

Soldiers, acting in conjunction with police, started carrying out checks on vehicles and trains north of the Brenner Pass, the main crossing point between the two countries.

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