Dozens of girls flee UK to join IS

AT least one woman or girl is travelling from Britain to Syria every week to join IS after being “carefully prepared” for the journey to ensure they do not stand out, a senior counter-terrorism officer has disclosed.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Helen Ball said at least 60 females had travelled to Syria over the past year. She said 22 were young women, including 18 under the age of 20. The last five to travel to Syria were aged 15 or 16.

Scotland Yard’s national counter-terrorism coordinator made the disclosures after new surveillance footage emerged showing three London schoolgirls travelling to Syria.

The CCTV images appear to show them passing through a bus station in Istanbul, on the way to Turkey.

Turkish authorities said the girls were believed to be the missing Bethnal Green Academy pupils Shamima Begum and Amira Abase, both 15, and Kadiza Sultana, 16. They are thought to have crossed into Syria shortly afterwards.

Neither Turkish Airlines nor the UK Border Force reported that the girls were intending to travel unaccompanied to the region, despite it being a well-worn route to Syria.

Last year Yusra Hussien, an A-plus pupil who wanted to become a dentist, fled her home in Bristol for Syria after being “brainwashed” online.

The girls are reportedly married off to IS fighters. – The Telegraph