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British schoolgirl twins who fled UK to be 'jihadi brides' may be on the run from Isis in Syria

Zahra and Salma Halane, 17, left Manchester last year

Heather Saul
Thursday 14 May 2015 18:10 BST
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An Isis fighter pictured earlier this year
An Isis fighter pictured earlier this year (Reuters)

Two British schoolgirls who fled the UK to Isis-held territories may be trying to return home after escaping from the terror group, according to reports.

Zahra and Salma Halane, 17, left their homes in Manchester and travelled to Syria in June 2014.

Both girls reportedly married Isis commanders who were then killed in December, a report by The Sun has claimed.

Their father Ibrahim told the newspaper his daughters said “everything had changed” and they are now believed to be attempting to flee with a third girl.

It comes after a blog post by Mosul Eye claiming three girls were on the run from Isis in Mosul sparked speculation the girls referred to in the report could be Shamima Begum, Amira Abase and Kadiza Sultana, who disappeared from their homes in east London in February and crossed over into Syria from Turkey.

However, a lawyer representing the families of all three said he believed they were still living in the Isis stronghold of Raqqa, in Syria.

Amira Abase, Kadiza Sultana and Shamima Begum caught on CCTV at Gatwick airport on their way to Turkey in February (AP) (AP/Metropolitan Police)

Mohammed Tasnime Akunjee told The Independent: “I’ve contacted my own sources who are trustworthy and have in the past provided information that has turned out to be accurate. They believe the girls are not being referred to in that report and are as safe they can be in that region.”

Theresa May declined to say whether the three British teenagers who are reported to be on the run from Isis would be allowed back into the UK.

The Home Secretary would say only that attempts to return are dealt with on a "case-by-case" basis.

A spokesperson for the Foreign Office said it was aware of the reports and is looking into them.

The FO added: “We are concerned about the safety of young people and vulnerable individuals who choose to travel to Iraq. We are severely restricted in the consular assistance we can provide to British nationals in Mosul and other areas of Iraq where Isis operate.

“The British Embassy in Baghdad and the British Consulate-General in Irbil stand ready to provide assistance to British nationals should it be required.”

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