24 irregular migrants held in northwestern Turkey

KIRKLARELI, Turkey

Turkish gendarmerie teams held 24 irregular migrants in the northwestern province of Tekirdag, security sources said on Tuesday.

Acting upon a tip-off, two separate groups of Syrian and Palestinian nationals were held in the villages of Tatlipinar and Malkoclar.

The migrants were transferred to provincial gendarmerie headquarters following health checks in a hospital.

A Turkish national was also held for human smuggling.

Turkey has been a key transit point for asylum seekers aiming to cross into Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution.

Turkey hosts nearly 4 million refugees, more than any other country in the world.

* Writing by Ahmet Gencturk