The fathers of nine children feared to have been taken from Bradford to Syria are said to be "distraught".
Three sisters – Khadija Dawood, 30, Sugra Dawood, 34, and Zohra Dawood, 33 – and their nine children went on a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, but did not return home as expected last Thursday and have not contacted their families for a week.
Balaal Khan, a lawyer representing the three fathers, said the "main concern" was that the sisters might have travelled to Syria where their brother is understood to be fighting with extremists.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The children, aged between three and fifteen, are believed to have boarded a flight from Saudi Arabia to Istanbul in Turkey, a commonly used route into Syria, on Tuesday 9 June, reports the BBC.
Khan said the fathers were "distraught" and want their children "out of harm's way".
Families of the missing women and children, all from Bradford, first contacted West Yorkshire Police after the group failed to return home on 11 June.
"West Yorkshire police are investigating the matter and have contacted the Turkish authorities," said Khan. "However, at this stage no progress has been made with any sightings or contact in Turkey. The family of the missing persons are extremely worried and feel helpless."
The children have been named as Maryam Siddiqui, 7, Muhammad Haseeb, 5, Junaid Ahmed Iqbal, 15, Ibrahim Iqbal, 14, Zaynab Iqbal, 8, Mariya Iqbal, 5, Ismaeel Iqbal, 3, Haafiyah Binte Zubair, 8, and Nurah Binte Zubair, 5.
However, Khan said preliminary inquiries showed no log of Haafiyah and Nurah Zubair boarding the flight to Istanbul.
It is the largest group from Britain suspected of trying to reach Syria, says The Times, and will "fuel the belief that the authorities' figure of 700 Britons having travelled to the war zone is an underestimate".
-
October 13 editorial cartoonsCartoons Monday's political cartoons include Donald Trump's consolation prize, government workers during shutdown, and more
-
Can Gaza momentum help end the war in Ukraine?Today's Big Question Zelenskyy’s request for long-range Tomahawk missiles hints at ‘warming relations’ between Ukraine and US
-
The Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners being releasedThe Explainer Triumphant Donald Trump addresses the Israeli parliament as families on both sides of the Gaza war reunite with their loved ones
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
Inside Syria’s al-Hol campUnder the radar Aid cuts mean authorities face ‘uphill struggle’ to maintain security
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
Rubio says US brokered end to Syria conflictSpeed Read Syria's defense ministry was targeted in Israeli attacks on the capital
-
Syria's returning refugeesThe Explainer Thousands of Syrian refugees are going back to their homeland but conditions there remain extremely challenging
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
