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'Syria-bound' Luton family house raided day before UK exit Missing Luton family 'in Syria' sources reveal
(about 2 hours later)
Police raided a house owned by a Luton family suspected to be in Syria and a woman was stopped at Heathrow the day before 12 family members left for Bangladesh, the BBC has discovered. A family of 12 from Luton who went missing on a trip to Bangladesh have contacted UK relatives saying they are in Syria, sources have told the BBC.
The woman, 21, was stopped at the airport on 9 April suspected of trying to go Syria, but she was not arrested. Bedfordshire Police said it had yet to confirm the information but enquiries were ongoing.
A search then took place at the home of the missing grandparents, also thought to be the home of other family members. Relatives raised the alarm after the family did not return home from their trip after stopping in Turkey.
Twelve family members left the UK the next day and did not return. The BBC has also learned a house was raided and a family member stopped at Heathrow the day before they departed.
The woman, believed to be 21-year-old Rajia Khanom, was stopped while the family was at the airport on 9 April because she was suspected of trying to go Syria.
She was not arrested, but a search then took place at the home of the missing grandparents, also thought to be the home of other family members.
On the day of the search, a Bedfordshire Police spokesman said the raid took place with a warrant under terrorism legislation.On the day of the search, a Bedfordshire Police spokesman said the raid took place with a warrant under terrorism legislation.
"The searches are being carried out following concerns that a woman may have been planning to travel to Syria. She was stopped at Heathrow Airport," he said."The searches are being carried out following concerns that a woman may have been planning to travel to Syria. She was stopped at Heathrow Airport," he said.
"No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing.""No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing."
The missing family is:The missing family is:
It is believed Ms Khanom had links to banned Islamist group Al-Muhajiroun, which had members in Luton.
Police said the family flew to Bangladesh on 10 April and flew back to Istanbul on 11 May. They were due back at Heathrow three days later but failed to return.Police said the family flew to Bangladesh on 10 April and flew back to Istanbul on 11 May. They were due back at Heathrow three days later but failed to return.
The family was reported missing to police by two sons, understood to be Mr Mannan's from a previous marriage, who live in Luton.The family was reported missing to police by two sons, understood to be Mr Mannan's from a previous marriage, who live in Luton.
Community leader Ashuk Ahmed, who has known the family for 35 years, said no-one knew if they had joined a specific extremist Islamist group in Syria.Community leader Ashuk Ahmed, who has known the family for 35 years, said no-one knew if they had joined a specific extremist Islamist group in Syria.
However, he said people in the community had told him some women in the family might have been radicalised and took the rest of the family with them to Bangladesh to avoid detection.However, he said people in the community had told him some women in the family might have been radicalised and took the rest of the family with them to Bangladesh to avoid detection.
Neighbour Syed Hussain told the BBC he remembers a police search at the house where officers took out paperwork. Another said he remembers seeing lots of police cars.Neighbour Syed Hussain told the BBC he remembers a police search at the house where officers took out paperwork. Another said he remembers seeing lots of police cars.
Bedfordshire Police said a family member had been in touch with relatives in the UK but they did not say where they were.Bedfordshire Police said a family member had been in touch with relatives in the UK but they did not say where they were.
There was a "suggestion that the family may have gone to Syria", the force said, but it had "been unable to corroborate that information".There was a "suggestion that the family may have gone to Syria", the force said, but it had "been unable to corroborate that information".
In a statement, relatives said they were "devastated by the disappearance" and they "can only think they have been tricked into going there".In a statement, relatives said they were "devastated by the disappearance" and they "can only think they have been tricked into going there".