Over 110 irregular migrants held in western Turkey

BALIKESIR/IZMIR, Turkey

At least 113 irregular migrants were held in western Turkey, according to security sources on Thursday.

In the Ayvalik district of the western Balikesir province, the gendarmerie units rounded up 31 Afghan migrants, including 14 children, who were trying to cross to Greece.

Separately, the gendarmerie held 39 migrants, including 10 Afghan nationals, in western Balikesir's Bandirma district.

Also, the Turkish Coast Guard held 43 irregular migrants who were trying to cross to Greece in western Izmir’s Cesme district.

Among the migrants were Malian, Congolese, Palestinian, and Senegalese nationals.

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

Reporting by Candogan Parlatan and Suat Salgin:Writing by Handan Kazanci, Faruk Zorlu