5 foreign nationals held in northwestern Turkey

KIRKLARELI, Turkey

At least five foreign nationals who illegally entered Turkey were held in the country's northwest, according to a security source on Friday.

Acting on a tip, gendarmerie teams in the Kirklareli province held the Afghan nationals in the Kofcaz district, said the source who asked not to be named as he is not authorized to speak to the media.

The foreign nationals claimed that they were beaten in Bulgaria and sent to Turkey. Later, they were referred to a local repatriation center, the source added.

* Writing by Gozde Bayar in Ankara