By Salih Baran</p> <p>ANKARA, Turkey (AA) – At least 1,030 irregular migrants were held across Turkey on Thursday, according to multiple security sources.</p> <p>Some 831 irregular migrants — Afghan, Pakistani, Algerian, South African, Somalis, Bangladeshi, Persian, Iraqi, Palestinian, Moroccan, Eritrean, Guinean, Egyptian, and Syrian nationals who had entered Turkey illegally — were held by gendarmerie forces in the northwestern Edirne province, a source said on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.</p> <p>Separately, 44 Afghan and Pakistani nationals in the province including 10 children and five women in a rubber boat were held by the coast guard.</p> <p>The coast guard also held 74 irregular migrants who were in a rubber boat in the Aegean province of Izmir. The migrants, who were trying to illegally cross from Ayvacik to Greece, were Afghan nationals.</p> <p>The coast guard held 52 irregular migrants in the Aegean Aydin province, including 34 migrants in a rubber boat, while the rest were held after being captured by drones in Didim in the province.</p> <p>In another operation, gendarmerie forces held 67 irregular migrants trying to illegally cross to Greece in Seferihisar and Foca in the Aegean Izmir province.</p> <p>Also, six Afghan national migrants in a car were held by gendarmerie forces in the eastern Kars province.</p> <p>All the migrants were later referred to provincial migration directorates. </p> <p>Turkey has been the main route for refugees trying to cross to Europe, especially since the beginning of the civil war in Syria. </p> <p>Some 268,000 irregular migrants were held in Turkey in 2018, according to the Interior Ministry.</p> <p>* Writing by Burak Bir</p> <p>
