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Families issue pictures of Yorkshire teenagers thought to have fled to Syria Families issue pictures of Yorkshire teenagers thought to have fled to Syria
(35 minutes later)
The families of two “ordinary Yorkshire lads” who are feared to have travelled to Syria have issued pictures of the teenagers.The families of two “ordinary Yorkshire lads” who are feared to have travelled to Syria have issued pictures of the teenagers.
Hassan Munshi and Talha Asmal, both 17 and from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, are thought to have fled to the war-torn country after catching a holiday flight to Turkey on 31 March.Hassan Munshi and Talha Asmal, both 17 and from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, are thought to have fled to the war-torn country after catching a holiday flight to Turkey on 31 March.
Earlier this week their families issued an urgent appeal for the boys to return home and said they were “gravely worried” that they had fled to join Islamic State fighters. Now the families have released passport-style photographs of the pair in a further plea for information on their whereabouts. Earlier this week, their families issued an urgent appeal for the boys to return home and said they were gravely worried that they had fled to join Islamic State fighters. Now the families have released passport-style photographs of the pair in a further plea for information on their whereabouts.
Hassan is the younger brother of Hammaad Munshi, who became Britain’s youngest convicted terrorist after he was arrested in 2006 at the age of 15 and later convicted over his role in a plot to murder non-Muslims. Hassan is the younger brother of Hammaad Munshi, who became Britain’s youngest convicted terrorist, after he was arrested in 2006 at the age of 15 and later convicted over his role in a plot to murder non-Muslims.
West Yorkshire police said they had been supporting the missing teenagers’ families and carrying out extensive inquiries alongside the North East counter-terrorism unit. West Yorkshire police said they had been supporting the missing teenagers’ families and carrying out extensive inquiries alongside the north-east counter-terrorism unit.
A statement released on behalf of the two families on Tuesday said they were devastated at what has happened. “Our number one priority is to get Hassan and Talha back home with their families and we implore anyone who may have any information whatsoever to get in contact with the police,” it said.A statement released on behalf of the two families on Tuesday said they were devastated at what has happened. “Our number one priority is to get Hassan and Talha back home with their families and we implore anyone who may have any information whatsoever to get in contact with the police,” it said.
“Naturally, we are in a state of profound shock and are trying to come to terms with the predicament we find ourselves in and we hope and pray that no other family finds itself in our situation.“Naturally, we are in a state of profound shock and are trying to come to terms with the predicament we find ourselves in and we hope and pray that no other family finds itself in our situation.
“These were just two ordinary Yorkshire lads who enjoyed the things that all young people enjoy at their age – both Hassan and Talha had a promising future, as an apprentice and an A-level student respectively, and we are praying they will be back with us soon and are able to realise that future.”“These were just two ordinary Yorkshire lads who enjoyed the things that all young people enjoy at their age – both Hassan and Talha had a promising future, as an apprentice and an A-level student respectively, and we are praying they will be back with us soon and are able to realise that future.”
The families have urged parents to be extra vigilant, saying it is “near impossible” to know if children have been groomed and brainwashed. The families have urged parents to be extra vigilant, saying it is near impossible to know if children have been groomed and brainwashed.