Over 50 irregular migrants held in southern Turkey

By Mehmet Toktas and Erdal Turkoglu

HATAY, Turkey (AA) - At least 52 irregular migrants were held in Turkey’s southern province of Hatay, security sources said on Thursday.

Turkish security forces on patrol duty at the Syrian border spotted groups of people who were trying to cross into Turkey illegally in two separate incidents, said the sources who spoke on conditions of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

In the first incident, 38 Syrians were held in villages of Guvecci and Aslanyazi and were referred to the Turkish gendarmerie for security check.

The second group of 14 Syrian nationals were held in Altinozu district and were later referred to the police station.

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