Police fear three UK schoolgirls ‘gone to join IS’

The schoolgirls, Shamima Begum, 15, Kadiza Sultana, 16, and an unnamed 15-year-old, are all from east London where they attended the same school.

Police fear that the girls, who are all close friends, could be heading to join the Islamic State group.

The trio travelled to Istanbul from Gatwick airport on February 17. They were last seen at their homes that morning when they gave their families “plausible reasons” to be out for the day.

Above: Kadiza Sultana, 16, pictured in Gatwick airport

The girls are all pupils at Bethnal Green Academy, the same school attended by a 15-year-old girl who fled to Syria in December. The runaways are said to be good friends with that girl.

Counter-terrorism Command Commander Richard Walton said: “We are extremely concerned for the safety of these young girls and would urge anyone with information to come forward and speak to police. Our priority is the safe return of these girls to their families.

“We are reaching out to the girls using the Turkish media and social media in the hope that Shamima, Kadiza and their friend hear our messages, hear our concerns for their safety and have the courage to return now, back to their families who are so worried about them.”

Above: Shamima, 15, pictured at Gatwick airport

Shamima is possibly travelling under the name of Aklima Begum, 17, police said. The third girl is not being named at the request of her family.

‘Extremely dangerous place’

Mr Walton added: “We are concerned about the numbers of girls and young women who have or are intending to travel to the part of Syria that is controlled by the terrorist group calling themselves Islamic State.

“It is an extremely dangerous place and we have seen reports of what life is like for them and how restricted their lives become. It is not uncommon for girls or women to be prevented from being allowed out of their houses or if allowed out, only when accompanied by a guardian.

“The choice of returning home from Syria is often taken away from those under the control of Islamic State, leaving their families in the UK devastated and with very few options to secure their safe return.”

Worrying trend

The three schoolgirls are the latest in a number of cases of young British women travelling to Syria to join Islamic State extremists. In October last year, Home Secretary Theresa May said that she had removed the passports of 25 Britons trying to get to Syria.

In September, the parents of 20-year-old Aqsa Mahmood from Glasgow made a plea for their daughter to return home. She is believed to have travelled to Syria and married an IS fighter, after becoming increasingly radicalised watching the Middle East crisis unfold.

Police said Shamina was 5ft 7in tall, and wearing black thick rimmed glasses, a black hijab, light brown and black leopard print scarf, dark red jumper, black trousers and jacket, carrying a dark blue cylindrical shape holdall with white straps.

Kadiza is 5ft 6in tall, of slim build and wearing black-rimmed glasses, a long black jacket with a hood, grey striped scarf, grey jumper, dark red trousers, carrying a black holdall.

Both are British nationals, speak English with London accents and also speak Bengali.

The third girl is 5ft 6in, of slim build, wearing black thick rimmed glasses, black head scarf, long dark green jacket with fur lined hood, light yellow long sleeved top, black trousers, white trainers carrying a black Nike holdall. She speaks English.