Migrants continue to flock to Greece-Turkey border

By Salih Baran</p> <p>EDIRNE, Turkey (AA) – Dozens of irregular migrants planning to cross into Greece continued to flock into northwestern Turkey following false rumors that Ankara had opened the border.</p> <p>As of last Thursday, migrants have been making their way via train and bus to the province of Edirne — which borders Greece — upon social media reports alleging that Turkey would allow them through.</p> <p>Turkish security forces have held more than 2,000 irregular migrants planning to cross to neighboring Greece in the city in the past 5 days, security sources said.</p> <p>Police and gendarmerie forces tightened security measures near the border to prevent the influx of migrants. </p> <p>Thousands of irregular migrants had previously flocked to Edirne in 2015 after claims that Germany would accept migrants and that border crossings would be open.</p> <p>Turkey has been the main route for irregular migrants trying to cross into Europe, especially since 2011 when the Syrian civil war began.</p> <p> </p> <p>*Writing by Nilay Kar Onum