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Britons held in Turkey for trying to enter Syria could be deported immediately Britons held in Turkey for trying to enter Syria could be deported immediately
(about 4 hours later)
Nine British nationals detained in Turkey after allegedly trying to cross illegally into Syria could be deported on Thursday, according to reports. Four children are among nine British nationals awaiting deportation from Turkey after allegedly attempting to cross the border into war-torn Syria.
Footage released earlier apparently shows the Britons arriving at a police station in the south of the country, where they are understood to have been kept overnight. Images have emerged of the group leaving a hospital in the south of the country, where they are reported to have had a medical checkup and fingerprints taken.
Members of the group – which reportedly includes three men, two women and four children – were arrested on Wednesday in Hatay province, which shares a border with Syria. Surrounded by uniformed military officers, three men, two women and four children are seen leaving the medical facility and boarding a silver van.
According to Sky News, Turkish MP Mehmet Ali Ediboglu said on Wednesday night: “They are being held at a paramilitary outpost. Probably they will be deported to their country tomorrow.” Turkish armed forces (TAF) stopped the Britons on Wednesday in Hatay province, which lies on Turkey’s 500-mile long border with Syria.
The Foreign Office said it was in contact with the Turkish authorities. The group is believed to include children aged from two to 10 years old, ITV News reported. An online statement from the TAF said: “Turkey has foiled an attempt of nine British citizens to enter Syria and detained them.”
The latest arrests come after three young men were detained at the Turkey-Syria border last month. They were tracked down after police were given a tipoff about their alleged plan to enter the country. A woman was also arrested at the border in March on a separate occasion. They were held overnight at a patrol border post but are understood to have been moved to a branch of the police that deals with deportation.
It is unclear when and where they will arrive back in the UK, police sources told the Guardian, but UK authorities are monitoring developments and liaising with Turkish counterparts.
Turkish MP Mehmet Ali Ediboglu told reporters the group could be deported later on Thursday. A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We can confirm the arrest of nine British nationals in Turkey. We are in contact with Turkish authorities and are providing consular assistance to those detained.”
The arrests come after three young men were detained at the Turkey-Syria border last month. They were tracked down after police were given a tipoff about their alleged plan to enter the country. A woman was also arrested at the border in March on a separate occasion.
In February, police launched an international manhunt for three schoolgirls who went missing from their east London homes. Bethnal Green academy pupils Shamima Begum, Amira Abase and Kadiza Sultana are believed to be inside Syria after flying to Turkey on a well-trodden path to the country.In February, police launched an international manhunt for three schoolgirls who went missing from their east London homes. Bethnal Green academy pupils Shamima Begum, Amira Abase and Kadiza Sultana are believed to be inside Syria after flying to Turkey on a well-trodden path to the country.
It is understood they were following another 15-year-old girl who travelled there from Britain in December. A high court judge has since confiscated the passports of four other pupils at the school after concerns were raised by Tower Hamlets council.It is understood they were following another 15-year-old girl who travelled there from Britain in December. A high court judge has since confiscated the passports of four other pupils at the school after concerns were raised by Tower Hamlets council.
The Metropolitan police believe about 600 Britons have travelled to Syria and Iraq since the conflict began, while around half are believed to have returned to the UK.The Metropolitan police believe about 600 Britons have travelled to Syria and Iraq since the conflict began, while around half are believed to have returned to the UK.
Yesterday, a former prosecutor warned that headteachers were concerned the Easter holidays will be a “window of opportunity” for pupils to flee the UK to join extremists in the Middle East.
Nazir Afzal, who stepped down on Tuesday as the chief crown prosecutor for north-west England, said parents’ fears that children would be criminalised for showing an interest in Islamic State or other extremist groups meant school staff were holding back from contacting the police.