This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31564014

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Syria crisis: Fears grow for three UK schoolgirls 'Syria-bound' London girls: PM 'deeply concerned'
(35 minutes later)
Fears are growing for the safety of three east London schoolgirls who police believe are trying to cross the Turkish-Syrian border to join Islamic State (IS) extremists. PM David Cameron says the disappearance of three girls feared to be travelling to Syria to join Islamic State (IS) extremists is "deeply concerning".
Shamima Begum, 15, Kadiza Sultana, 16 and their unnamed 15-year-old friend flew from Gatwick to Turkey on Tuesday. East London schoolgirls Shamima Begum, 15, Kadiza Sultana, 16 and their unnamed 15-year-old friend flew from Gatwick to Turkey on Tuesday.
Police have issued an urgent appeal for help in finding them, suggesting they are "extremely vulnerable". Police believe the girls are trying to cross the Turkish-Syrian border and say they are "extremely vulnerable".
The trio are friends with a fourth girl who travelled to Syria in December. It is thought 50 British women have gone to join IS as "jihadi brides".
Muslim leaders have said they are "extremely concerned" for the girls, who attend attend Bethnal Green Academy. Mr Cameron said: "It is deeply concerning and obviously our authorities will do everything we can to help these girls.
"But it does make a broader point which is the fight against Islamist extremist terror is not just one that we can wage by the police and border control.
"It needs every school, every university, every college, every community to recognise they have a role to play.
"We all have a role to play in stopping people from having their minds poisoned by this appalling death cult."
'Great surprise'
The trio are friends with a fourth girl who travelled to Syria in December. The Metropolitan Police said they had been spoken to that month as part of the police inquiry into the girl's disappearance.
In a statement, the force said: "There was nothing to suggest at the time that the girls themselves were at risk and indeed their disappearance has come as a great surprise, not least to their own families."
The three girls they told their parents on Tuesday they were going out for the day, police said.
CCTV at Gatwick airport captured the girls as they passed through security, before boarding a Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul.
Shamima is possibly travelling under the name of her 17-year-old sister Aklima Begum, police said. The third girl is not being named at the request of her family.
'Serious ramifications''Serious ramifications'
Muslim leaders have said they are "extremely concerned" for the girls, who attend Bethnal Green Academy.
Worshippers at the East London Mosque were asked during Friday night prayers to come forward if they had any information to help the girls return home safely.Worshippers at the East London Mosque were asked during Friday night prayers to come forward if they had any information to help the girls return home safely.
Mosque spokesman Salman Farsi said the trio, who have been described as "straight-A students", had been manipulated.Mosque spokesman Salman Farsi said the trio, who have been described as "straight-A students", had been manipulated.
He said: "They have been misled. I do not know what was promised to them. It is just sad. We have not had anything like this before in our community. He said: "They have been misled. I do not know what was promised to them. If they do go to Syria, it is a war zone and there are serious ramifications for going in to a war zone."
"I do not know what was told to them but if they do go to Syria, it is a war zone and there are serious ramifications for going in to a war zone." Police have issued a description of the three girls:
Rushanara Ali, MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, said there was "deep concern" and shock in the close-knit community.Rushanara Ali, MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, said there was "deep concern" and shock in the close-knit community.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme about the possibility they were heading to Syria, she said: "We all of us hope that's not the case, but they left home without informing their families, left the country, which is extremely out of character so these are our worst fears."Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme about the possibility they were heading to Syria, she said: "We all of us hope that's not the case, but they left home without informing their families, left the country, which is extremely out of character so these are our worst fears."
She said advice and support was needed for schools and teachers concerned about any of their pupils. Mussurut Zia, general secretary of the Muslim Women's Network, told BBC Breakfast: "I don't think for one instant that these people, Isis [Islamic State] and their likes, are going to treat these girls in the right way.
"This is like grooming, this is child exploitation, and in the worst-case scenario they are potentially being used as weapons of war in those countries," the MP added.
'Grave danger'
Her concerns were echoed by Prime Minister David Cameron, who said the "fight against Islamist extremist terror is not just one that we can wage by the police and border control".
"It needs every school, every university, every college, every community to recognise they have a role to play.
"We all have a role to play in stopping people from having their minds poisoned by this appalling death cult."
Mussurut Zia, general secretary of the Muslim Women's Network, said the missing girls would not know what lay in store.
She told BBC Breakfast: "I don't think for one instant that these people, Isis [Islamic State] and their likes, are going to treat these girls in the right way.
"They won't have rights, they won't be equal to their male counterparts and I don't think that they know this at the moment and they're going to be in for a real shock.""They won't have rights, they won't be equal to their male counterparts and I don't think that they know this at the moment and they're going to be in for a real shock."
She called for more training for airport staff to ask questions of those flying to border countries such as Turkey and raised the possibility of parental consent to be given when teenagers were travelling abroad alone.She called for more training for airport staff to ask questions of those flying to border countries such as Turkey and raised the possibility of parental consent to be given when teenagers were travelling abroad alone.
Metropolitan Police Commander Richard Walton said he believed the girls would be "in grave danger" if they made it to Syria.Metropolitan Police Commander Richard Walton said he believed the girls would be "in grave danger" if they made it to Syria.
He said he hoped they would "hear our concerns for their safety and have the courage to return now, back to their families who are so worried about them".He said he hoped they would "hear our concerns for their safety and have the courage to return now, back to their families who are so worried about them".
Police hope the girls may still be in Turkey, as severe winter weather is currently affecting transport links in the country.Police hope the girls may still be in Turkey, as severe winter weather is currently affecting transport links in the country.
The three girls were last seen on Tuesday morning, when they told their parents they were going out for the day, police said.
CCTV at Gatwick airport captured the girls as they passed through security, before boarding a Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul.
Shamima is possibly travelling under the name of her 17-year-old sister Aklima Begum, police said.
The third girl is not being named at the request of her family.
Abdul Samid, a parent governor at Bethnal Green Academy, said there was "absolutely not" any radicalisation at the school.Abdul Samid, a parent governor at Bethnal Green Academy, said there was "absolutely not" any radicalisation at the school.
"I'm 100% confident - with the head and the senior leadership team and the whole school - that we've done everything to put in measures that safeguard all the children that attend the school," he said."I'm 100% confident - with the head and the senior leadership team and the whole school - that we've done everything to put in measures that safeguard all the children that attend the school," he said.
He said he did not believe the girls were trying to get to Syria. Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: "The idea of 15-year-old British schoolgirls setting off to Syria is very disturbing, and shows that more action is urgently needed to stop young people being drawn into extremism and conflict."
"I still don't believe that they are going anywhere other than a holiday - because this is how they were dressed and this is how they looked and this is how they packed," he added.
Police have issued a description of the three girls:
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: "The idea of 15-year-old British schoolgirls setting off to Syria is very disturbing, and shows that more action is urgently needed to stop young people being drawn into extremism and conflict, and to help families and communities who are trying to counteract extremist recruitment messages."
It is thought more than 50 British women have travelled to Syria via Turkey to join IS to become so-called "jihadi brides".
Those with information can call the free Anti-Terrorist Hotline number on 0800 789 321.Those with information can call the free Anti-Terrorist Hotline number on 0800 789 321.