UPDATE - 187 irregular migrants held in western Turkey

UPDATES NUMBER OF MIGRANT DETAINEES

By Hakan Mehmet Sahin, Hanife Erdinc, Vedat Yucebas

ANKARA (AA) - At least 187 irregular migrants were detained in Turkey on Friday.

Turkish security forces held a total number of 129 migrants in several operations across northwestern Edirne province, sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said.

The sources said the migrants were Syrian, Afghan, Pakistani, Algerian and Palestinian.

In northwestern Canakkale, the Coast Guard intercepted a boat with 32 Iranian and Afghan nationals who were trying to go to Greece’s Lesbos island.

Turkish forces, meanwhile, also apprehended 26 migrants in northwestern Tekirkag province.

The migrants were transferred to the migration management authorities.

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