Over 550 irregular migrants held in Turkey

By Burak Akay, Esber Ayaydin and Hakan Mehmet Sahin

IZMIR/CANAKKALE/EDIRNE, Turkey (AA) - At least 570 irregular migrants were held on Wednesday in Turkey, according to the security sources.

In the northwestern Canakkale province, the Turkish Coast Guard apprehended 72 Afghan nationals, including women and children, in Ayvacik and Bayramic districts, a security source said on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.

Also in Edirne, another northwestern province, nearly 370 migrants were rounded up during regular gendarmerie patrols in Ipsala and Meric districts, and the villages of Bosnakoy and Yenikadin.

Among the migrants were Palestinian, Syrian, Pakistani, Algerian, Afghan and Moroccan nationals.

Separately, nearly 130 migrants - including Iraqi, Afghan and Syrian nationals - were held in western Izmir province after the coast guard spotted dinghies off Cesme and Dikili districts.

All the migrants, attempting illegal cross to Greece, were referred to the provincial migration offices.

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