Over 550 irregular migrants held in Edirne province

EDIRNE

At least 559 irregular migrants were held in northwestern Edirne province on Thursday, according to security sources.

Gendarmerie forces and border troops launched an operation in Ipsala, Meric, Kesan and Uzunkopru districts of the province and held 559 irregular migrants, said the source who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

The migrants -- including Palestinian, Syrian, Iraqi, Moroccan, Persian, Somali, Afghan, Algerian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals -- were attempting to illegally cross to Europe.

All of the migrants were later referred to provincial migration directorate.

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

Some 268,000 irregular migrants were held in Turkey in 2018, according to the Interior Ministry.

* Writing by Burak Bir