LONDON -- British police officers are in Turkey searching for three missing schoolgirls believed to be heading for Syria to join Islamic State (ISIS) militants, while their families have appealed for their safe return.
15-year-olds Shamima Begum and Amira Abasa and 16-year-old Kadiza Sultana, who were all students at London's Bethnal Green Academy, left London last Tuesday on a plane bound for Turkey.
They were friends with another 15-year-old who left for Syria in December.
Their families spoke out at the weekend, calling for them to return.
Abase's father Hussen wept as he left a message for his daughter, who had told him she was going to a wedding on the day she disappeared.
“We are depressed, and it’s very stressful," he said. "The message we have for Amira is to get back home. We miss you. We cannot stop crying. Please think twice. Don’t go to Syria.”
He said that his daughter had never discussed jihad with him, but "maybe with friends."
Begum's sister Renu also called for her return, saying: "We just want you home & safe."
Families of 3 girls believed to be going to Syria spoke today. Father of Amira Abase said: “We cant stop crying. Don't go to Syria." (1/3)— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) February 22, 2015
Speaking of her sister Shamima, Renu Begum said "Mum needs you more than anything. You're our baby. We just want you home & safe." (2/3)— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) February 22, 2015
Sister of Kadiza, Halima Khanom said: “We love you. Find the courage in your heart to contact us and let us know you are okay” (3/3)— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) February 22, 2015
A spokesman for Scotland Yard said that officers are working closely with the Turkish authorities "who are providing a great deal of assistance and support to our investigation."
Prime Minister David Cameron spoke out on Saturday about the situation.
"It is deeply concerning and obviously our authorities will do everything we can to help these girls," he said.
"But it does make a broader point which is the fight against Islamist extremist terror is not just one that we can wage by the police and border control."
"It needs every school, every university, every college, every community to recognise they have a role to play."
"We all have a role to play in stopping people from having their minds poisoned by this appalling death cult."
Security services have been criticised after it emerged that one of the girls, Shamima Begum, sent a Twitter message to Aqsa Mahmood, who left Glasgow to marry an Islamic State fighter in Syria in 2013.
A lawyer for Mahmood's family said that her Twitter account has been monitored by police since she left the UK, adding that the message should have been seen and led to an intervention before the girls left the country.