‘Underestimated’ role of jihadist women

THE number of women and minors who joined Isil in Syria and Iraq has been “significantly underestimated” and poses a threat to Britain, a report has warned.

Official figures suggest that, of the 425 Britons who returned from the Middle East after supporting terrorist groups, two were women and four were minors.

However, the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation at King’s College London has found that, of the 850 UK citizens who became affiliated with Isil (also known as IS), 195 were women or children.

Dr Joana Cook, one of the researchers, said: “We believe some women may now pose a particular security threat based on several factors. These include the physical security roles and related training that some women have undertaken in Is-held territory, and the potential to transfer or apply these skills in other locations, or to their children.

“We have also seen women active in Is-linked plots in countries such as France, Morocco, Kenya, Indonesia and the US, suggesting that women are indeed important to consider as potential threats.”

The report said: “Women and minors are poised to play a significant role in the organisation going forward – they may assist in keeping the ideology alive, passing it on to the next generation, continuing to recruit members, support IS in other ways such as fundraising, or perpetrating violence on behalf of the group.