+++ Refugee crisis unfolds +++

All updates in Universal Coordinated Time (UTC)

20:32 Julia Klöckner, a deputy leader in Merkel's Christian Democratic Union party, backed the decision to implement controls on Germany's border with Austria, stating that the refugee crisis "is a test for Europe."

"We need a balance between helpfulness and consistent application of laws," Klöckner said, referring to asylum procedures in the EU.

19:55 Germany Federal Police implemented the first controls on Germany's border with Austria, reported AFP news agency.

19:29 "Grenzkontrollen" - German for "border controls" - became Germany's second top trending hashtag on Twitter.

Social media users displayed mixed reactions to Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere's announcement that border controls would be reinstated on the Austrian frontier, with some showing support while others criticized the move.

18:43 Vice chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) Ralf Stegner told Reuters news agency that Germany will continue to provide asylum seekers with assistance, but European solidarity and fair distribution of refugees in the EU was necessary.

The leftist politician also criticized German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the state of Bavaria for their "rhetoric" following today's decision to reinstate controls on Germany's border with Austria.

18:01 German police announced that "hundreds" of officers have been mobilized for border controls, reported AFP news agency.

17:49 German police have cleared Munich's central train station following a bomb threat.

17:02 Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban praised Germany's decision to reintroduce border controls in comments made to German periodical "Bild" to be printed on Monday.

"We have great understanding for Germany's decision and we'd like to express our solidarity," Orban said.

"We understand that this decision was necessary in order to defend Germany's and Europe's values," Orban added.

16:43 The EU has said that Germany's reintroduction of controls on its border with Austria due to the arrival of thousands of refugees "appears to be a situation covered by the rules."

"The temporary reintroduction of border controls between Member States is an exceptional possibility explicitly foreseen in and regulated by the Schengen Borders Code, in case of a crisis situation," the EU said in a statement.

16:37 The Czech Republic's Prime Minister Milan Chovanec said it will also increase controls on its border with Austria in response to the refugee influx, moments after Germany made a similar announcement.

"The Czech Republic is boosting measures on its border with Austria. Further steps will be determined according to the number of refugees heading to the Czech Republic," said Chovanec in a televised statement.

16:17 Bavarian state premier Horst Seehofer said Europe needs to offer more support to Schengen border countries - such as Hungary - instead of demonizing them, reported Reuters news agency.

16:07 German railway operator Deutsche Bahn has halted trains coming into Germany from Austria until Monday morning, the DPA news agency reported.

15:41 German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere announced that border controls will be reinstrated along Austrian frontier.

"The aim of this measure is to stop the current influx to Germany and to return to an orderly process," the minister said.

15:40 European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have agreed that Europe needs more "solidarity" to tackle ensuing refugee crisis.

15:37 Here is a look at the route used by most refugees entering Germany.

15:14 A spokeswoman for the Austrian rail company OeBB announced that Germany has halted train traffic from Austria. The situation is still unclear regarding outbound traffic.

15:08 Hungarian opposition party Politics Can Be Different proposed using tracking devices to trace the location of asylum seekers who have not received a decision on their application within 30 days, reports AP news agency.

14:18 According to media reports, Germany is set to reinstate border controls on the Austrian frontier in response to thousands of refugees arriving into the European country. German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere is expected to make a statement on the situation late Sunday.

ls/rc (AFP, AP, Reuters, dpa)