British family 'on way to Syria' arrested by Turkish police

http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/571524/Islamic-State-British-father-family

A BRITISH couple believed to have fled the UK with their four children to travel to Syria to join Islamic State (IS) have been arrested by police in Turkey.

By Alix Culbertson, Zoe Drewett & Tom Batchelor

PUBLISHED: 18:30, Mon, Apr 20, 2015 | UPDATED: 19:53, Mon, Apr 20, 2015

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Thames Valley Police

Asif Malik has allegedly taken his family to join Islamic State

Asif Malik and his partner, Sara Kiran, were arrested in Ankara and their four children were also taken into custody, according to reports that emerged this evening.

Mr Malik, 31, and his partner Sara Kiran, 29, were spotted boarding a ferry from Dover to Calais with their seven-year-old girl Zoha and three boys Essa, four, Zakariva, two, and one-year-old Yahya.
Family members say the pair had not mentioned going on holiday or taking a trip overseas sparking fears they were heading  off to join IS.

The young family, from Slough in Berkshire, have also been seen heading south through Europe.
They boarded the ferry on April 8 and are believed to have travelled by train through Budapest, Hungary, on April 12.

Relatives reported them missing on April 16.

We are in contact with the Turkish authorities and stand ready to provide consular assistance as required

Foreign Office spokesperson

Thames Valley Police confirmed this evening that the couple arrested in Ankara are the missing Britons.

Authorities in the UK said that there was no suggestion the family was doing any fighting in Syria.
But the Turkish official told the AP news agency that authorities believe the family was seeking to go to territory controlled by IS.

The official said that British authorities provided information to Turkish counterparts on Sunday and that police were able to track the family from the Greek border, where they crossed by bus on April 16.

Ms Kiran's family earlier made an emotional appeal earlier for her to get in touch, saying "we miss you".

In a statement released by Thames Valley Police, they said: "Sara, we want to let you know that we love you; we miss you, Asif and the grandchildren. You are not in trouble, we are not angry or upset, and we just want you to return home safely."

Police have stressed that their disappearance is still a missing persons inquiry, but were deeply concerned that the direction of travel appeared to be towards Syria.

A foreign office spokesperson said: "We are in contact with the Turkish authorities and stand ready to provide consular assistance as required."