Risk analysis centers at Istanbul airports, bus stations deport over 2,500 foreigners in three years

ISTANBUL

From June 2014 to 2017, risk analysis centers based at Istanbul’s bus stations and its two airports screened nearly 45,000 foreign suspects and deported over 2,500, state-run Anadolu Agency reported on Feb. 21, citing a security source. 

The analysis center project was spearheaded by Istanbul Police Chief Mustafa Çalışkan and continues to operate “successfully,” the source told the state agency, speaking anonymously due to restrictions on talking to the media.

In interview rooms, security officials do psychological testing to determine whether suspects should be sent back to their countries of origin. For those denied entry or deported, a confidential file is sent to authorities in their home country giving the reasons for their return.

At the centers, a number of standard review criteria are applied to suspects, such as facial expressions, attitudes, behaviors and clothing.

A total of 2,566 suspects have been deported through risk center assessments, including 1,577 from countries in Asia, 887 from Europe, 79 from Africa, 19 from the Americas and four from Australia.

Risk analysis centers have been established to catch suspected foreign persons with terror links, who try to enter Turkey to proceed to Iraq or Syria.

Turkey receives nearly 40 million visitors every year.