Over 90 irregular migrants held across Turkey

VAN, Turkey

At least 96 irregular migrants were held across Turkey, security sources said Monday.

In Baskale in the eastern Van province, 72 migrants, including children, were held by local gendarmerie forces, the sources said on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.

The migrants were nationals of Afghanistan and Pakistan, they added.

In the southern Hatay province, patrol units along the Syrian border caught 24 Syrians.

All of the migrants were referred to provincial migration offices.

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