Over 70 irregular migrants held in western Turkey

Women and children among those rounded up while attempting to cross into Greece

By Candogan Parlatan and Suat Salgin

IZMIR/BALIKESIR, Turkey (AA) - At least 71 irregular migrants have been held in two provinces of western Turkey, security sources said Thursday.

In Turkey’s Aegean province of Izmir, gendarmerie teams rounded up 40 migrants trying to cross into Greece, including seven women and two children.

They comprised 22 Somalis, six Yemenis, four Central African Republic nationals, four Ugandans and four Senegalese.

In Balikesir province, security forces held 31 irregular migrants who were trying to cross into Greece.

The migrants, all Afghan nationals, included eight women and 14 children.

A suspect accused of organizing the illegal crossing was arrested.

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

Kaynak:

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