Metropolitan Police are investigating reports of three teenage girls – two aged 15 and one aged 16 – missing from home and believed to be travelling to Syria. The three girls are feared to have left the country via Gatwick Airport on Tuesday 17 February on a flight to Istanbul. Two of the girls were reported missing that day and the third girl the following morning. 

Rushanara Ali MP said:

“I am extremely worried about the girls’ safety. Concerns have been expressed to me that they may have been radicalised by extremists and might be attempting to cross the Turkish/Syrian border.  I have spoken to the Assistant Commissioner at the Metropolitan Police and am aware the police are doing their best and are working with the families to locate the missing girls. The girls are extremely vulnerable and may be in potentially life-threatening danger.  I would like to join the police in their appeal and urge anyone who has had any contact with the girls, or has any information regarding their whereabouts, to get in touch with the police immediately." 

Police are encouraging anyone who has any information on this to contact the anti-terrorist hotline on 0800 789 321.