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Stefan Aristidou: the 'missing' Londoner who resurfaced in Turkey Stefan Aristidou: the 'missing' Londoner who resurfaced in Turkey
(about 1 hour later)
Stefan Aristidou landed in Larnaca airport on the south-east coast of Cyprus on 5 April 2015. Seven days later he went missing. Stefan Aristidou landed at Larnaca airport, on the south-east coast of Cyprus, on 5 April 2015. Seven days later he went missing.
Back in the UK, his family heard nothing from him for two years, despite issuing desperate appeals through missing persons charities and on social media.Back in the UK, his family heard nothing from him for two years, despite issuing desperate appeals through missing persons charities and on social media.
But earlier this week, the British national resurfaced in the Turkish town of Kilis, some three miles from the Syrian border and around 43 miles from Aleppo. This week the British national resurfaced in the Turkish town of Kilis, three miles from the Syrian border and around 43 miles from Aleppo.
The town, which has seen thousands of refugees pass through it, has taken the brunt of aggression from Islamic State militants who have bombarded its streets with rockets launched from territory controlled by the terrorists in Syria. Aristidou, who grew up in the leafy suburb of Enfield, in north London, is understood to have told Turkish authorities that he had travelled to Syria not to fight with any group but to “settle” – in Raqqa, the de facto capital of Islamic State.
Aristidou, who grew up in the leafy suburb of Enfield in north London, more than 2,500 miles away from battlefields of Syria, could not be further from home. He was picked up with a British woman of Bangladeshi origin identified as his wife. An American man was also detained.
He is understood to have told Turkish authorities that he did not travel to Syria to fight with any group but to “settle” – in Raqqa, the de-facto capital of Islamic State (Isis). He was picked up with a British woman of Bangladeshi origin identified as his wife. An American man was also detained.
A spokeswoman for the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said: “We are in contact with the Turkish authorities following the detention of a British man on the Turkey/Syria border.”A spokeswoman for the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said: “We are in contact with the Turkish authorities following the detention of a British man on the Turkey/Syria border.”
Around 850 so-called foreign fighters have travelled from the UK to Syria and Iraq to fight with Islamic State or other jihadi groups such as al-Nusra Front and in some cases to join the civil war against the regime of the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad. It is believed around half of these fighters have returned to the UK and around 200 have died. Around 850 so-called foreign fighters have travelled from the UK to Syria and Iraq to fight with Islamic State or other jihadi groups such as al-Nusra Front, and in some cases to join the civil war against the regime of the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad. It is believed around half of these fighters have returned to the UK and around 200 have died.
Aristidou, who is of Greek heritage, grew up in Gordon Hill in Enfield, on a tree-lined street, close to the Chase Farm hospital, in middle-class surroundings.Aristidou, who is of Greek heritage, grew up in Gordon Hill in Enfield, on a tree-lined street, close to the Chase Farm hospital, in middle-class surroundings.
He lived with his mother, Maria, a complementary therapist, who has a degree from Middlesex University and is working towards a PhD, and sister Stasia, who works as a logistics coordinator for a major oil firm. The family have lived in the semi-detached house for more than 20 years.He lived with his mother, Maria, a complementary therapist, who has a degree from Middlesex University and is working towards a PhD, and sister Stasia, who works as a logistics coordinator for a major oil firm. The family have lived in the semi-detached house for more than 20 years.
His father, Aristos, who works for a telecoms utility firm and studied at the Open University, moved out of the family home after he and his wife separated but still lives in London.His father, Aristos, who works for a telecoms utility firm and studied at the Open University, moved out of the family home after he and his wife separated but still lives in London.
Shortly before he went missing, neighbours told the Guardian, Stefan changed his style of clothing, adopting Islamic dress, and had started attending a mosque. Neighbours told the Guardian that shortly before going missing Stefan changed his style of clothing, adopting Islamic dress and started attending a mosque.
One neighbour, who asked not to be named, said Maria and Stasia were quiet neighbours and never spoke about Stefan after he went missing. One person who asked not to be named said Maria and Stasia were quiet neighbours and never spoke about Stefan after he went missing.
But she added: “I had a feeling he had gone somewhere like that. He suddenly started wearing Islamic clothing shortly before he went missing. We would see him leave on his own. But she added: “I had a feeling he had gone somewhere like that. He suddenly started wearing Islamic clothing shortly before he went missing. We would see him leave on his own. Before then he dressed in western clothes, jeans, you know.”
“Before then he dressed in western clothes, jeans, you know.”
The family declined to comment when contacted by the Guardian. Stasia, through her public Instagram account, frequently published photos of her brother with messages describing her feelings about his disappearance.The family declined to comment when contacted by the Guardian. Stasia, through her public Instagram account, frequently published photos of her brother with messages describing her feelings about his disappearance.
“Missing him,” she wrote in one post. “Can’t even watch the TV now without something reminding me. I want him back.”“Missing him,” she wrote in one post. “Can’t even watch the TV now without something reminding me. I want him back.”
“Hope he’s out there still smiling,” she wrote in another. “Every now and then I found something that belonged to him and it instantly makes me cry.”“Hope he’s out there still smiling,” she wrote in another. “Every now and then I found something that belonged to him and it instantly makes me cry.”
Shortly after he went missing, the family worked with the Lucie Blackman Trust, a charity set up to help relatives of missing or murdered people overseas, to launch an appeal for Stefan’s whereabouts.Shortly after he went missing, the family worked with the Lucie Blackman Trust, a charity set up to help relatives of missing or murdered people overseas, to launch an appeal for Stefan’s whereabouts.
The organisation, founded by the family of Lucie Blackman, who was murdered in Japan in 2000, described him as around 5ft 4in tall and of slim build, and said he had not been heard from since 12 April 2015.The organisation, founded by the family of Lucie Blackman, who was murdered in Japan in 2000, described him as around 5ft 4in tall and of slim build, and said he had not been heard from since 12 April 2015.
However, after it learned of Aristidou’s arrest, the appeal was taken down. After it learned of Aristidou’s arrest, the appeal was taken down.
A spokesman for the charity said: “The Lucie Blackman Trust supports families with a loved one missing overseas. This appeal was launched some time ago in good faith but given the nature of the reports the appeal has been closed.”A spokesman for the charity said: “The Lucie Blackman Trust supports families with a loved one missing overseas. This appeal was launched some time ago in good faith but given the nature of the reports the appeal has been closed.”