Over 550 irregular migrants held across Turkey

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

At least 552 irregular migrants were held across Turkey, security sources said on Nov. 26.

In the northwestern Edirne province, 322 irregular migrants - including women and children - were held in the villages of Bosnaköy, Orhaniye, Yenikadın and the districts of Meriç, Uzunköprü and Keşan, said a security source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

The migrants - Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Iraqi, Iranian, Indian, Moroccan, Algerian, and Palestinian nationals - were trying to reach Europe, the source added.

Also, security forces held 62 migrants - all Afghan and Pakistan nationals - in Kofçaz in the northwestern Kırklareli province. They were trying to cross to the Greek islands, sources said.

Separately, 114 irregular migrants - Syrian, Afghan and Palestinians - were held by gendarmerie and coast guard forces in Didim in the western Aydın province.

In the eastern Malatya province, 33 irregular migrants - Syrian, Afghan and Pakistan nationals - were held by the gendarmerie in the Kale district.

In Edremit in the northwestern Balıkesir province, 21 irregular migrants were held by gendarmerie forces.

All of the migrants were referred to provincial migration directorates.

Turkey has been a main route for irregular migrants trying to cross into Europe, especially since 2011, when the Syrian civil war began.