ISTANBUL, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Turkish gendarmerie forces have caught 83 asylum seekers in Turkey's northwestern province of Kirklareli bordering Bulgaria, attempting to reach Europe illegally, state-run TRT broadcaster reported on Monday.

Provincial Gendarmerie Command teams were informed that illegal migrants were seen in the vicinity of the Derekoy Border Gate and the nearby districts of Pinarhisar, Babaeski, Kofcaz, and Demirkoy, it said.

The units detained the migrants, including children, from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, Palestine, and Iraq in operations conducted in the area, it added.

The immigrants were reportedly handed over to the Kirklareli Pehlivankoy deportation center.

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

The country hosts more than 4 million refugees, including more than 3.7 million Syrians. Enditem

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