Turkey deported 1,100 European citizens who came to Turkey to join al-Qaida-linked groups fighting in Syria to their home countries, local Haberturk daily reported on Sunday.

The report said Ankara has sent a report to Germany, Belgium, France and the Netherlands, which the fighters mainly came from.

Turkey arrested these European citizens with the help of the National Intelligence Organization, Gendarmerie forces and police units in 41 operations in 2013, the report said, adding there are still around 1,500 European citizens who want to go to Syria and fight on the front lines along with al-Qaida.

Turkey is on alert about suspected jihadists and has been sharing intelligence with European countries in this regard through Interpol, the report said.

The country carried out 141 operations against al-Qaida and al- Qaida-linked groups in last three years, detaining 518 suspects and imprisoning 217 of them.

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