Authorities detained three Iranian nationals as they were laying down steel cables covered with plastic material on Turkish-Iranian border.

Their motive was not clear but state-run Anadolu Agency reported that the trio was being charged with terror-related offenses.

Acting on a tipoff that people were sneaking into Turkey from Iran and were "laying pipes" along the border line in the eastern province of Ağrı, gendarmerie forces located the three unidentified suspects and apprehended them as they tried to flee.

Authorities say the suspects laid three kilometers long of steel cable along the border when they were captured.