The Asian Age

80 ISIS jihadi brides returning to UK: Report

- ADITI KHANNA

Around 80 women suspected to be members of an all- female Islamic State of Iraq and Syria terror cell are believed to be on their way back to the UK, many with children, after being detained in Syria following the collapse of the dreaded terror group.

Two sisters from east London, a white convert daughter of a former British Army paratroope­r and an IT graduate whose mother works in the state- funded National Health Service ( NHS) are part of the alleged cell, which is linked to some of the world’s most infamous terrorists, according to an investigat­ion by the Sunday Times.

“The vast majority of those returning to Britain from Syria are women and children,” an unnamed UK security service official was quoted as saying.

“The more concerning cases — particular­ly the men — have not been returning. But we will speak to everyone… because they may have been involved in terrorist

One of the women has reportedly told relatives in Britain that as many as 80 British women and children expect to return imminently, while others will be home by the end of the year

activity,” the official said. One of the women has reportedly told relatives in Britain that as many as 80 British women and children expect to return imminently, while others will be home by the end of the year.

She said she recently had her British passport handed back and that British officials had issued her child with new travel documents.

She also expects to be DNA- tested to prove she is the child’s mother.

The disclosure comes as Britain and other European government­s face growing pressure to repatriate the jihadi brides from detention camps in northern Syria controlled by Kurdish forces.

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