Over 190 undocumented migrants held across Turkey

By Hanife Erdinc, Mirac Kaya, Hakan Mehmet Sahin

CANAKKALE, Turkey

At least 193 undocumented migrants were held across Turkey on Wednesday, according to security sources.

In northwestern province of Canakkale, the coast guards rounded up 17 migrants on a rubber boat off the coast of Ayvacik district, said the sources who refused to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

The migrants, including women and children, were trying to cross into Greece's Lesbos island through illegal means, the sources added.

In the northwestern Edirne province, gendarmerie forces and border units held 176 migrants during operations in Meric, Orhaniye, Yenikadin, Bosnakoy and Ipsala districts of the province.

The migrants included Syrians, Afghans, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Iraqis, and Palestinians, the sources added.

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