Croatian police have arrested a 27-year-old Russian and Belgian national and two other Belgian nationals for trying to smuggle a group of migrants.

The smugglers were arrested after an incident which happened on Monday at Novoseljani near Bjelovar, around 80 kilometres east of Zagreb, when police tried to stop a van with Belgian registration plates.

Instead of pulling over, the driver jumped out of the vehicle that was moving slowly and escaped.

The police found in the van a group of migrants, none of whom were injured.

The driver was arrested later in the day as were two other Belgian nationals who are believed to have helped the driver escape.