Turkey deported 1,100 European nationals who allegedly planned to cross into Syria this year and join al-Qaida in the war-torn country, Today's Zaman reported. The Europeans, sent back to Germany, Belgium, France, the Netherlands and other countries, were arrested in raids by Turkish security services, the report said. The arrests were made after other countries advised Turkish authorities that the Europeans were using Turkey as a transit country on their way to the Syrian conflict, the report said. The alleged al-Qaida members used apartments in southeast Turkey as safe houses, Today's Zaman said.