Six Turkish nationals were arrested Wednesday after they illegally crossed the border, Greek police said. The two men, three women and a one-year-old boy were taken into custody by by border guard in the northeastern town of Orestiada.
They allegedly crossed the Evros River in plastic boats.
Police said a 38-year-old Tunisian and 21-year-old Moroccan were also taken into custody for helping the Turkish nationals into mainland.
The suspects were referred to the Orestiada prosecutor’s office, the police statement said, according to Associated Press.
The two families had not applied for asylum yet, but they intended to do so.
Citing police sources, AP reports that more than 100 Turkish nationals have applied for asylum in Greece after the failed coup of July 2016. Among them are the 8 Turkish soldiers whose extradition rejection by Greece’s Supreme Court had led into tension with Turkey.
All these Turkish asylum seekers claim their lives were at risk as the Turkish government linked them to the failed coup.
Reporting about the arrest of the two families, Turkish state-run news agency Anadolu wrote:
“Greek media reported that the six individuals are likely members of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) and would seek asylum in Greece.
Turkey accuses FETO and its leader, Fetullah Gulen, of orchestrating a failed coup last summer. Gulen has lived in exile in the U.S. since 1999.”
Greek media speak of “Gulen as terror organization”?
I want to see this.
