A Syrian native has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for taking part in a riot attacking Hungary's southern border.
A Hungarian court, in the southern city of Szeged, convicted Ahmed Hamed, a Syrian who has lived in Cyprus for many years, of committing an "act of terror" by using violence — throwing rocks — to try to force police into letting in migrants.
The 40-year-old was part of a group taking part in the rioting on Hungary's border with Serbia in September 2015. The group gave a two-hour ultimatum to the border police, demanding to let migrants into the European Union, through the border, unchecked. As the ultimatum expired, the group attacked the policemen protecting the border gate. Hamed was also using a megaphone to coordinate the attack on the border gate.
According to AP, the court also found Hamed guilty of entering Hungary illegally. His lawyers said they would appeal the terrorism conviction, while prosecutors said they would ask for a longer prison sentence.