Three Female Teenagers from London Missing, Believed to be Heading to Syria to Join ISIS
British police are seeking the public's help after three east London girls left their homes and are believed to be making their way to ISIS controlled Syrian territory.
The Metropolitan Police said the three girls, Shamima Begum, 15, Kadiza Sultana, 16, and a third 15-year-old who was not named, left their homes separately on Tuesday morning, giving excuses to their families. They later met up and traveled to Gatwick airport, south of London, together.
Two of the girls were reported missing after they failed to return home Tuesday night. The third was reported missing Wednesday morning. The girls then boarded a Turkish Airlines flight and landed in Turkey Tuesday night.
Counter Terrorism Command (SO15) Commander Richard Walton said, "We are extremely concerned for the safety of these young girls and would urge anyone with information to come forward and speak to police. Our priority is the safe return of these girls to their families."
Teen girls have frequently been drawn into joining ISIS. They are interested in joining the terrorist organization as they feel it will give their lives meaning and excitement and to feel as though they belong to a family. Once they are a part of ISIS they become wives of fighters. They take part in the organization's activities by marrying, producing children and becoming a part of the fight themselves.
ISIS is able to draw in teenagers from the West, male and female, through their effective ad campaigns and social media presence.
In September another young girl, Yusra Hussien, went missing from her largely Somali community in western England. She is 15 years old.
Once teens from the West get to Syria, their opportunity of returning home is often taken away from them. There have been reports of ISIS members taking and burning the passports and other belongings of people who join them.
The police were also using social media in order to get their messages across to the girls.
"We are reaching out to the girls using the Turkish media and social media in the hope that Shamima, Kadiza and their friend hear our messages, hear our concerns for their safety and have the courage to return now, back to their families who are so worried about them," Walton said.
Police said if the girls could be found while still in Turkey, there is a good chance of them returning home to their families.
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