Over 150 irregular migrants held in Turkey

By Esber Ayaydin and Ozgun Tiran

IZMIR/AYDIN/HATAY/KIRKLARELI, Turkey

At least 151 irregular migrants were held across Turkey, security sources said Saturday.

In Turkey’s Aegean province of Izmir, 27 irregular migrants --including women and children -- were held off coastal Dikili district, said a security source who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

The migrants -- 25 Afghans and two Syrians -- were trying to reach Greece through Greek islands on a rubber boat, the source added.

Also, security forces held 30 irregular migrants in Didim in the Aegean Aydin province trying to cross into Europe.

In the northwestern province of Kirklareli, Turkish gendarmerie units rounded up 78 irregular migrants of Pakistani, Iraqi, Iranian, Afghan and Algerian nationals near the Bulgarian border.

Separately, 16 irregular migrants trying to illegally enter Turkey from Syria were held by border guards in Yayladagi district of Hatay, a southern border province.

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