Trains and road crossings between Austria and Germany have been closed after Munich said it was struggling to cope with the huge influx of people arriving in the city.
Approximately 13,000 refugees arrived in Munich yesterday, calling for temporary border checks and the suspension of the Schengen Agreement, the treaty which allows people to travel freely within participating European countries.
Austian newspaper Kronen Zeitung reported that German police will check migrants to 'determine who is entitled to asylum'. There was no mention of how these checks would be made.
The announcement comes just weeks after Germany was hailed as a shining example for its response to the refugee crisis, after it said it expected to take in 800,000 refugees.
Germany's Interior minister, Thomas de Maiziere, said that the country remains the top destination for refugees in Europe, receiving 43% of all asylum applications in the 28-nation European Union.
He said more than 360,000 migrants have arrived in Germany this year, including a record of 83,000 in July, adding that Europe needed to come up with a better way to share the burden.
David Cameron said the UK would “live up to its moral responsibility” and take in up to 20,000 people who have been forced from their homes by the forces of the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, and the Islamic State terror group (also known as Isis, Isil or Daesh).
He said: "We will continue to show the world that this is a country of extraordinary compassion always standing up for our values and helping those in need."
Migrants reach Munich
Euro star(01 of13)
Open Image ModalA migrant boy wrapped in an EU flag arrives from Austria at Munich Hauptbahnhof main railway station.(Photo by Alexandra Beier/Getty Images) (credit:Alexandra Beier via Getty Images)
Tears and a V-sign(02 of13)
Open Image ModalRefugees flash victory signs and wipe away tears as they arrive at the main train station in Munich, Germany. (AP Photo/Michael Probst) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
My hero, Merkel(03 of13)
Open Image ModalA refugee carries a picture of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.Hundreds of refugees arrived in various trains to get first registration as asylum seekers in Germany. (AP Photo/Michael Probst) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Riding in(04 of13)
Open Image ModalA father carries his child on his shoulders. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Smiles on the train(05 of13)
Open Image ModalEight month old Maria smiles to her father Ibrahim as she travels with her mother Yasmin, centre, and her four year old brother Mohammed. The family are from near Damascus, Syria. They arrived in Munich by train from Salzburg, Austria.This is the last stage of their four-months-journey from Syria via Budapest and Vienna to Germany. (AP Photo/ Kerstin Joensson) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Relief(06 of13)
Open Image ModalRefugees wave as they arrive at the main train station in Munich. (AP Photo/Michael Probst) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Cheers at the station(07 of13)
Open Image ModalRefugees flash victory signs and wipe away tears as they arrive. (AP Photo/Michael Probst) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Smile that says it all(08 of13)
Open Image ModalA young migrant looks on at a first attendance point in Munich, Germany. (AP Photo/Michael Probst) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Playful arrival(09 of13)
Open Image ModalA young migrant plays with a police hat he was given after arriving at the main train station. (AP Photo/Michael Probst) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Welcome to Munich(10 of13)
Open Image ModalRefugees wave as they arrive at the train stationy. (AP Photo/Michael Probst) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Family's relief(11 of13)
Open Image ModalA family who was among approximately 800 migrants on a train from Hungary arrive. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images) (credit:Sean Gallup via Getty Images)
Station volunteers applaud(12 of13)
Open Image ModalA volunteer worker holds up a child. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images) (credit:Sean Gallup via Getty Images)
Kiss from a volunteer(13 of13)
Open Image ModalA migrant boy who had arrived on a train from Hungary gets a kiss from a volunteer worker (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images) (credit:Sean Gallup via Getty Images)