Bradford family of seven feared to be heading for Syria

Arshid Siddique speaks to Channel 4 News reporter Ciaran Jenkins

Urgent appeals have been made for information about 39-year-old Imran Ameen, his 40-year-old wife Farzana and their children, aged from five to 15.

Arshid Siddique, a first cousin of both Imran and Farzana, who lives in the same road, said he was shocked, adding: “My worst fears are they are going to a war zone, not for them, they are adults, it’s for the kids.

“I can’t understand it, I have three kids of my own, it beggars belief any mother or father would want to take their children to a war zone, for whatever reason.”

‘I’m doing the best for the kids’

Mr Siddique told reporters that Farzana had taken her mother back to live in Pakistan about two weeks ago and then, when she got home, told the extended family that Imran had a new job lined up in Dubai. The family then left without saying goodbye, and had made no contact to say how they were settling in.

However, according to Mr Siddique, when the police got involved, Farzana’s brother in Pakistan had rung her and she had told him: “I’m doing the best for the kids”. Mr Siddique said that her brother was “heartbroken” at what had happened.

Mr Siddique described the missing couple as not particularly religious, saying Farzana did not wear a face veil and had more English friends than Asian ones.

‘We should have seen the signs’

However, recalling how their eldest girl, aged 15, had been removed from school for home education, he said “We should have seen the signs. Even at that time there was something telling me something was not right. I never thought it was anything to do with what she has now done.

“I hope and pray for safe return, they will face the music but it is not about them, it’s about the kids.”