ISTANBUL, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Turkish security forces on Monday detained 19 illegal Afghan immigrants in Turkey's biggest city Istanbul, local media reported.

Istanbul municipal police units stopped a van on suspicion in the Sultangazi district on the European side of the city, according to the Demiroren news agency.

The teams found the immigrants jammed inside the vehicle and informed police forces, said the agency.

These immigrants have reportedly tried to go to the northwestern border province of Edirne, some 240 km away from Istanbul, to cross into Greece.

Turkey, a key transit point for asylum seekers on their way to Europe, has been increasingly witnessing an influx of Afghan refugees fleeing turmoil in their homeland.

The country hosts more than 4 million refugees, including 3.6 million Syrians, within its borders, mostly in Istanbul. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)