By Necat Hazar
VAN, Turkey (AA) - Security forces rounded up at least 310 irregular migrants on Friday across Turkey, according to security sources.
Police held 138 migrants in Turkey’s eastern Van province following their illegal entry into the country.
According to a statement by local police, the migrants were Afghan, Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals.
Also, provincial gendarmerie forces rounded up 36 migrants in the northwestern province of Kirklareli.
The migrants -- including Afghan, Pakistan, Algerian and Moroccan nationals -- were trying to reach Europe, sources said.
Separately, 136 migrants were held in Turkey’s northwestern Edirne province adjacent to the border with Greece and Bulgaria while attempting to illegally cross into Europe.
Provincial gendarmerie units and border guards held the migrants coming from Eritrea, Algeria, Vietnam, Nepal, Iraq, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Morocco and Pakistan.
Turkey has been a main route for irregular migrants trying to cross into Europe, especially since 2011, when the Syrian civil war began.