News Digest

UK police in Turkey to look for schoolgirls believed to be heading for Syria

Officers from the Metropolitan Police have arrived in Turkey as the search continues for three schoolgirls from east London who are believed to be heading for Syria. Relatives of Shamima Begum, 15, Kadiza Sultana, 16, and Amira Abase, 15, have made emotional pleas for the teenagers to come home amid fears they may have been recruited by jihadists online. The three girls were last seen on Tuesday morning as they left their homes, telling their families they would be out for the day. They are thought to have boarded a Turkish Airlines flight at Gatwick, which landed in Istanbul on Tuesday evening, with the intention to cross into Syria and join terror group Islamic State.

If anybody is telling her that they’re going to love her more than us, they’re wrong.

Kadiza Sultana’s older sister Halima Khanom

Speaking at Scotland Yard, Abase Hussen, 47, said his family was “completely different now” after his daughter’s disappearance. He said: “We are depressed, and it’s very stressful. The message we have for Amira is to get back home. We miss you. We cannot stop crying. Please think twice. Don’t go to Syria.” Aamer Anwar, the lawyer representing Aqsa’s family, told Sky News security authorities are not passing on intelligence which could allow families to prevent their children from travelling to Syria or Iraq.

Find the courage in your heart to contact us and let us know that you’re safe and you’re ok - that’s all we ask.

Kadiza Sultana’s older sister Halima Khanom