Turk arrested after driving bulldozer through Evros border

The information so far indicates that the Greek authorities have captured a Turk (about 40 years old) in the Kastanies outpost as he crossed the border with a JCB excavator.

According to press sources, the Turk who was arrested drove an agricultural machine to the customs office in Kastanies for some work near the frontier. Although he signalled to stop, by Greek soldiers and border guards, he changed direction and attempted to pass through an agricultural area to Greece, while he stopped next to the outpost.

According to "thrakinea" and "evrosnews", the man is a Turkish soldier driving a bulldozer for some works near the border, but "radioevros" reports that, according to sources from the Ministry of Defense, the Turkish man claims to be a farmer and was working with his machine. However, the information that he is cnnected to the military has not been confirmed so far as he was carrying a civilian ID card.

According to Turkish media, the Turk is Musa Alerik (38 years old), an employee of the Municipality of Adrianople, who was on the border for work with the machine.

Τhe capture took place very close to the area where the two Greek officers Aggelos Mitrotodis and Dimitris Kouklatzis were arrested by a Turkish patrol on March 1st and are still detained in Adrianople prison.

According to the man arrested, he is a Turkish farmer and an employee of the Municipality of Adrianople. The Mayor of Andrianouple, Recep Gürkan, according to Turkish media, said that a local worker had been arrested and all the necessary actions would be taken for his release.

According to Evros-news, the Police Director of Orestiada, Paschalis Syritoudis arrived at the outpost at Castanies, where the Turk is detained, in order to investigate the case, and high-ranking officials of the armed forces, (according to information thecommender of the brigade in the region) are on scene and dealing with the case.