Five detained over death of 22 migrants in accident in İzmir

İZMİR - Anadolu Agency

Five people, including three Syrian nationals, have been detained as part of an investigation into an accident in the western province of İzmir over the weekend, which claimed the lives of at least 22 migrants.

Thirteen people were also wounded when a truck carrying undocumented migrants plunged off the highway into the waterway in the Menderes district of İzmir on Oct. 14.

Police detained five people based on the information the driver of the truck, who has already been detained, provided in his testimony. The driver was also injured in the accident.

On a separate note, only hours after the deadly accident in İzmir, police nabbed 20 Afghan migrants traveling in the back of a truck in the western province of Bursa.

Traffic police noticed the migrants on board the truck late Oct. 14 as they were waiting at a gas station in the Osmangazi district while its driver took a restroom break.

The Syrian driver, who carried a fake driver’s license, was detained and the Afghans were sent to the migration office for deportation.