Six Germans held near Syria border, say Turkish police

ANKARA

Turkish gendarmes have detained six German citizens, suspected of trying to cross Turkey’s southern border with Syria.

The individuals were detained on Friday in the southeastern province of Sanliurfa, Turkish security forces said.

Gendarmerie teams determined that the six people were trying to pass to Syria across the frontier in the Goktepe neighborhood of Birecik district.

Officials said that the detainees would be deported.

More than 100,000 people have been detained since January, 2015 while trying to illegally cross the Turkey-Syria border.

According to Turkish officials, the country has deported more than 1,100 Syria-bound foreigners since January.