UPDATE 2 - 217 undocumented migrants held in Turkey

CHANGES HEADLINE, LEDE, UPDATES NUMBER OF MIGRANTS

By Kenan Irtak and Etem Geylan

ISTANBUL/HATAY, Turkey (AA) - At least 217 undocumented migrants have been held across Turkey, security sources said on Wednesday.

In Turkey’s largest city, Istanbul, 115 Pakistani nationals were held in the Catalca district after Turkish security forces were tipped off that the group was planning cross into Greece via Edirne, northwestern Turkey, the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.

Police stopped four minibuses at different times and held undocumented migrants who reportedly came to Turkey via Iran and had been staying in Istanbul’s central Aksaray district for around a month, the source added.

Six Turkish nationals and a 17-year-old Pakistani have been arrested over reportedly being organizers of the voyage and taking $1,500 from each migrant. The suspects were later remanded in custody by a court, the source added.

In Istanbul’s Silivri district, 34 Syrian nationals, mainly women and children, were also held, the source said. One suspect was arrested, the source added.

In the western province of Izmir, the coast guard detained 51 foreign nationals when they stopped an inflatable boat which was carrying the undocumented migrants in the Cesme district.

Syrians, Malians, Angolans and Central Africans were among those who attempted to illegally cross into Greece through Turkey.

Earlier today, in Turkey’s southern province of Hatay, 17 undocumented migrants were held, the security source said. The migrants were found after they crossed into Hatay's Yayladagi district from Syria.

All the migrants were Syrian nationals, the source added.

Turkey has been the main route for migrants trying to cross into Europe, especially since the beginning of the civil war in Syria.

*Erdal Turkoglu from Hatay and Safak Yel from Izmir contributed to this story.