Turkey has detained 8,900 people linked to extremist groups since 2011

Turkey detained 8,900 people and arrested 2,992 other suspects linked to Islamic State, al-Nasra and al-Qaida groups since 2011 as part of a struggle against foreign fighters, according to information gathered from the Prime Ministry Coordination Center.

Turkey has put travel ban to 53,781 foreign fighters since 2011, according to the figures updated on Nov. 2.

The Turkish government keeps suspects, who are linked to terrorist organization or those who enter the country illegally, under administrative detention, dispatch to "repatriation centers" and eventually deport them.

Some 5,500 people were deported under this context. Some 16,000 people were controlled and 4,000 were not allowed to enter the country after examination by "risk analyses groups" established at the airports and bus stations, the Prime Ministry said.

Turkey has nearly 900 km border with Iraq and Syria, therefore has become a transit country for foreign fighters. Yet, the Turkish government has been increasing its measures in order to confront illegal crossings for a few years.

Source: Xinhua