FEARS GROW FOR MISSING SYRIA GIRLS
The disappearance of twin 16-year-old girls reported to have fled their homes to go to war-torn Syria is "deeply worrying", a leading Muslim commentator said today.
Mohammed Shafiq, chief executive of the Ramadhan Foundation, also said it showed the "abject failure" of the intelligence agencies, that the youngsters could travel from Britain to the Middle East.
Police have confirmed they are trying to trace the girls, both aged 16 and from a Somalian family, who were reported missing from their home in Manchester on June 26.
Their parents reportedly only found out they were missing after finding their empty beds.
The girls, who have not been named, flew from Manchester International Airport to Turkey, bordering Syria where a civil war involving Muslim militants is raging.
Police are trying to find out where the girls are and bring them home.
The Sun on Sunday said it understood the deeply religious Muslim twins had travelled to Syria.
The paper said their brother was a fighter for the extremist militant group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS).
Mr Shafiq, whose Ramadhan Foundation campaigns against extremism and terrorism, said: "It is deeply worrying that two teenage girls have travelled to Syria to support terrorist groups.
"These terrorist groups are barbaric and evil and do not have any regard for human life and Islamic history.
"Joining them in Syria and Iraq is not allowed under Islam and those that join them open the risk to being charged under terrorism legislation in this country.
"There has been an abject failure of intelligence agencies, how can two 16-year-old girls travel unaccompanied from Manchester Airport and arrive in Istanbul without any questions being asked.
"I have spoken to and am offering support to Manchester's Somalian community who like me oppose terrorism and will continue to support the authorities.
"I have been in touch with those family members to ensure that the parents know they are not alone.
"The biggest worry I have is of former fighters returning to the UK targeting Britain. Let's hope and pray that the girls return safely home to their worried families."
A spokesman for GMP said: "On Thursday 26 June 2014, Greater Manchester Police received a report that two 16-year-old girls were missing from their home in Manchester.
"The girls flew from Manchester International Airport to Turkey. Since their departure the girls have been in contact with their family.
"We are attempting to confirm their current location and secure the wellbeing of both girls.
"Officers are also providing regular support to the family."
Some 6.5m people have been displaced in Syria since an uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in March 2011.
About 500 UK Muslims are thought to have gone to fight in Syria.
Sir Peter Fahy, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police who leads counter-terrorism strategy for the Association of Chief Police Officers, warned young Muslims not to go to fight in Syria or they could be arrested when they return.
