Over 20 irregular migrants held in NW Turkey

By Hakan Mehmet Sahin

EDIRNE, Turkey

At least 22 irregular migrants were held in the northwestern Edirne province -- bordering Greece and Bulgaria -- according to security sources on Sunday.

The migrants were held in the Bosnakoy district by gendarmerie forces, said a source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

The group of migrants -- Palestinian, Libyan and Nigerian nationals -- were allegedly trying to illegally cross to Europe.

All of the migrants were referred to provincial migration directorate.

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

Some 265,000 irregular migrants were held in Turkey in 2018, according to the Interior Ministry.

The irregular migrants were mostly Afghan, Pakistani, Syrian and Iraqi nationals.