950 migrants planning to cross to Greece held in Turkey

By Salih Baran and Hakan Mehmet Sahin

EDIRNE, Turkey (AA) – Security forces held 950 irregular migrants in a northwestern Turkish province as they attempted to cross to neighboring Greece, security sources said on Sunday.

The migrants made a beeline to Edirne province as of Thursday night after they were told on social media that Turkey would allow them to cross the border, said the sources who asked not to be named, due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Upon a tip-off, police and gendarmerie forces increased security measures near the border to prevent the influx of migrants.

Iranian migrant Ali Huseyni said: “Thousands of people organized to cross the border after they were told on social media that Turkey’s border gate would be open for crossings.”

“People on social media groups wrote to us: ‘You go to Edirne and then we will cross to Greece from there',” Huseyni said.

He urged other migrants not to come to Edirne, saying: “Borders are not open.”

All migrants were referred to the provincial Migration Office in the city, the sources noted.

Thousands of irregular migrants had flocked to Edirne in 2015 as well after hearing claims that Germany would accept migrants and border crossings would be open.

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

*Writing by Nilay Kar Onum