8 terrorists surrender to Turkish security forces

By Enes Duran

ANKARA, Turkey (AA) – Eight terrorists from Iraq and Iran surrendered to security forces in southeastern Turkish border provinces Tuesday, according to the Turkish General Staff.

According to a statement Wednesday on the General Staff website, seven terrorists from Iraq surrendered in the southeastern Turkish border city of Hakkari, Semdinli and one terrorist from Iran surrendered in the southeastern town of Silopi, Sirnak after fleeing shelters of terrorist organizations.

In addition 851 migrants were intercepted by Turkish police Tuesday trying to illegally enter Turkey via its land borders, and 78 were apprehended trying to travel to Greek islands

Of the 852 migrants, one apiece was from Iraq and Iran, and the rest were Syrians.

Items seized from the migrants include three shotguns, 21 pieces of 62 mm ammunition, 3,470 packages of cigarettes, nine kilograms of food, and 139 birds.

At the Iranian border, 31 rifles were seized, according to the statement.

In a separate incident, 78 migrants were intercepted trying to cross into Greece from a Turkish Aegean city.

Turkey's Aegean coast has been used as a springboard to try to cross the sea to Greek islands.

In recent years, thousands have made short but perilous journeys across the Aegean in a bid to reach northern and Western Europe in search of a better life.

Of the 4,715 migrants and refugees who lost their lives trying to cross the Mediterranean this year, 429 died in the eastern Mediterranean route between Turkey and Greece, according to recent figures.

More than a million refugees and migrants traveled from Turkey to Greece last year before an EU-Turkey deal this March stemmed the flow.