UK police fear 43 British girls have fled to Syria

Forty-three women and girls are believed to have travelled to Syria to join the Islamic State group as “jihadi brides” in the past year, UK police today said in its first official count of British women thought to be in the warzone.

Security officials believe up to 700 people have gone to Syria from the UK to become involved in jihadist groups and about half have returned.

Met Police deputy assistant commissioner Helen Ball said women who travelled might never be able to return home.

Ball, the senior national coordinator for counter terrorism policing, said: “Syria is an extremely dangerous place - the reality of life there is far from the image that terrorist groups actively promote to young women here in the UK.

“Families and communities are terrified that their daughters may be lured into travelling there. In some cases the appeal for women and girls may be a belief that their life will hold more meaning if they travel.

“It may be a misplaced sense of glamour of marrying a fighter, or perceived difficulty as to how to reconcile their religion with modern life so that they feel compelled to follow, as they may see it, their religious obligation by joining other women in Syria.

“Stories of families who have suffered the devastating consequences of loved ones travelled to Syria are sadly becoming more common. These are young women who are highly unlikely ever to have the option of returning home.”