This article is from the source 'guardian' 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.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/apr/02/britons-held-in-turkey-for-trying-to-enter-syria-could-be-deported-immediately

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
Rochdale councillor's son among Britons held near Turkey-Syria border Rochdale councillor's son among Britons held near Turkish-Syrian border
(about 1 hour later)
The 21-year son of a Labour councillor in Rochdale is one of nine British people arrested trying to cross the border into Syria.The 21-year son of a Labour councillor in Rochdale is one of nine British people arrested trying to cross the border into Syria.
Waheed Ahmed, a politics student at Manchester University, was stopped in Turkey on Wednesday along with four children aged one, three, eight and 11 and four other adults, all believed to be from Rochdale. His family say they thought he was on work experience in Birmingham. Waheed Ahmed, a politics student at Manchester University, was stopped in Turkey on Wednesday along with four children aged one, three, eight and 11, and four other adults, all believed to be from Rochdale. His family said they thought he was doing work experience in Birmingham.
Ahmed’s father, Shakil, who has represented Kingsway ward in Rochdale since 2012, said: “I was shocked, worried and extremely upset to hear that my son has been arrested on the Turkey-Syria border. It’s a total mystery to me why he’s there, as I was under the impression he was on a work placement in Birmingham. Ahmed’s father, Shakil, who has represented Kingsway ward in Rochdale since 2012, said: “I was shocked, worried and extremely upset to hear that my son has been arrested on the Turkey-Syria border.
“It’s a total mystery to me why he’s there, as I was under the impression he was on a work placement in Birmingham.
“My son is a good Muslim and his loyalties belong to Britain, so I don’t understand what he’s doing there. If I thought for a second that he was in danger of being radicalised I would have reported him to the authorities.“My son is a good Muslim and his loyalties belong to Britain, so I don’t understand what he’s doing there. If I thought for a second that he was in danger of being radicalised I would have reported him to the authorities.
“He’s studying a degree in politics and sociology at Manchester University and has a good future ahead of him. I just want to speak to my son and get him home as soon as possible so I can find out what’s going on.”“He’s studying a degree in politics and sociology at Manchester University and has a good future ahead of him. I just want to speak to my son and get him home as soon as possible so I can find out what’s going on.”
Simon Danczuk, the Labour MP for Rochdale, who lives in Kingsway ward, said the Ahmed family was well respected in the town. Danczuk’s wife, Karen, is a Kingsway Labour councillor alongside Ahmed Sr.Simon Danczuk, the Labour MP for Rochdale, who lives in Kingsway ward, said the Ahmed family was well respected in the town. Danczuk’s wife, Karen, is a Kingsway Labour councillor alongside Ahmed Sr.
“I know some members of his family. They have made a good contribution to the local community and are well regarded in Rochdale,” the MP said. “This will come as a shock and a surprise to all that know them.”“I know some members of his family. They have made a good contribution to the local community and are well regarded in Rochdale,” the MP said. “This will come as a shock and a surprise to all that know them.”
Shakil Ahmed is known in Rochdale for campaigning on Muslim issues and has a history of supporting planning applications for new mosques and Islamic study centres.Shakil Ahmed is known in Rochdale for campaigning on Muslim issues and has a history of supporting planning applications for new mosques and Islamic study centres.
A few years ago he raised money to turn an old pub on Crawford Street into an Islamic learning centre, which is now the Dar ul Munawar mosque, according to one local political source.A few years ago he raised money to turn an old pub on Crawford Street into an Islamic learning centre, which is now the Dar ul Munawar mosque, according to one local political source.
Danczuk said in a statement: “I am in the process of trying to find out more information on this case from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, though I would like to thank the authorities for stopping this family entering what is effectively a war zone. I’m particularly disturbed that children were involved. Danczuk said in a statement: “I am in the process of trying to find out more information on this case from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, though I would like to thank the authorities for stopping this family entering what is effectively a war zone. I’m particularly disturbed that children were involved.
“At this stage I don’t want to say too much until I receive more information from the police on whether a criminal offence has been committed. But I have a very clear position on anyone trying to get involved with terrorist groups and that is they must feel the full force of the law. Rochdale stands united against any terrorist activity and we are constantly vigilant about any signs of radicalisation.” “At this stage I don’t want to say too much until I receive more information from the police on whether a criminal offence has been committed. But I have a very clear position on anyone trying to get involved with terrorist groups and that is they must feel the full force of the law.
“Rochdale stands united against any terrorist activity and we are constantly vigilant about any signs of radicalisation.”
Irfan Chishti, of the Rochdale Council of Mosques, said: “We are shocked to hear this has happened in our town. Rochdale has had its fair share of negative publicity of late, given the grooming issue, and this is the last thing we need.”Irfan Chishti, of the Rochdale Council of Mosques, said: “We are shocked to hear this has happened in our town. Rochdale has had its fair share of negative publicity of late, given the grooming issue, and this is the last thing we need.”
Turkish armed forces stopped the group in Hatay province, which lies on the country’s 500-mile long border with Syria. A statement from the Turkish armed forces said: “Turkey has foiled an attempt of nine British citizens to enter Syria and detained them.” Turkish armed forces stopped the group in Hatay province, which lies on the country’s 500-mile-long border with Syria. A statement from the Turkish armed forces said: “Turkey has foiled an attempt of nine British citizens to enter Syria and detained them.”
Images have emerged of the group leaving a hospital in the south of the country, where they are reported to have undergone a medical checkup and had fingerprints taken. Surrounded by uniformed military officers, three men, two women and four children are seen leaving the medical facility and boarding a silver van.Images have emerged of the group leaving a hospital in the south of the country, where they are reported to have undergone a medical checkup and had fingerprints taken. Surrounded by uniformed military officers, three men, two women and four children are seen leaving the medical facility and boarding a silver van.
The group were held overnight at a border patrol post and are understood to have been moved to a branch of the police that deals with deportation. Greater Manchester police said the detainees were currently awaiting deportation.The group were held overnight at a border patrol post and are understood to have been moved to a branch of the police that deals with deportation. Greater Manchester police said the detainees were currently awaiting deportation.
Asst Ch Con Ian Wiggett said: “What is obviously concerning is why a family were seemingly attempting to take very young and vulnerable children into a war zone. Such a volatile and dangerous environment is no place for them whatsoever.”Asst Ch Con Ian Wiggett said: “What is obviously concerning is why a family were seemingly attempting to take very young and vulnerable children into a war zone. Such a volatile and dangerous environment is no place for them whatsoever.”
Mehmet Ali Ediboglu, a Turkish MP, 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.” Mehmet Ali Ediboğlu, a Turkish MP, told reporters that 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 British 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 arrested at the border on a separate occasion in March. Danczuk was criticised on social media earlier this week by Katie Hopkins, the Sun columnist and businesswoman, for his decision to attend the raising of a Pakistani flag over the local town hall to mark Pakistan’s national day on 23 March.
He ended up reporting her to the police for possible race hate crimes after accusing her of equating men of Pakistani origin with child abusers.
As the news emerged of Ahmed’s son’s activities on Sunday, a picture of Danczuk with Ahmed was circulated on Twitter by Tommy Robinson, founder of the far-right English Defence League.
Robinson claimed the photo showed Danczuk “at the Pakistani flag-raising ceremony days before his [Ahmed’s] son left for Isis”. But Danczuk told the Guardian he was “99.9% sure” the photo was from a previous year.
The arrests come after three young British men were detained at the Turkish-Syrian border last month. They were tracked down after police were given a tipoff about their alleged plan to enter the country. A woman was arrested at the border on a separate occasion in March.
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 that about 600 Britons have travelled to Syria and Iraq since the conflict began, around half of whom are believed to have returned to the UK. The Metropolitan police believe that about 600 Britons have travelled to Syria and Iraq since the conflict began, about half of whom are believed to have returned to the UK.
On Wednesday a former prosecutor said headteachers were concerned that the Easter holidays could be a “window of opportunity” for pupils to flee the UK to join extremists in the Middle East.On Wednesday a former prosecutor said headteachers were concerned that the Easter holidays could 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.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.