This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-33144491

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Missing Bradford family: Fathers 'distraught' over fears children are in Syria Missing Bradford family: Fathers 'distraught' over fears children are in Syria
(about 1 hour later)
The husbands of three sisters and nine children feared to have travelled to Syria are said to be "distraught" after the group went missing following a religious pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.The husbands of three sisters and nine children feared to have travelled to Syria are said to be "distraught" after the group went missing following a religious pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
Khadija, Sugra and Zohra Dawood, from Bradford, and their children aged three to 15 have not made contact for a week.Khadija, Sugra and Zohra Dawood, from Bradford, and their children aged three to 15 have not made contact for a week.
Their brother is understood to be fighting with extremists in Syria.Their brother is understood to be fighting with extremists in Syria.
The fathers' lawyer said the children said "we can't wait to come home" in a conversation before they went missing.The fathers' lawyer said the children said "we can't wait to come home" in a conversation before they went missing.
Balaal Khan said: "We've had no answers whatsoever, we don't know what's happened."Balaal Khan said: "We've had no answers whatsoever, we don't know what's happened."
The fathers - two of whom are in the UK and one in Pakistan - have been "distraught, crying, they don't know what to do", said Mr Khan, who said it was suspected the women had taken their children to Syria.The fathers - two of whom are in the UK and one in Pakistan - have been "distraught, crying, they don't know what to do", said Mr Khan, who said it was suspected the women had taken their children to Syria.
The fathers last spoke to their children on 8 June, when they were in the Saudi city of Medina, he said, adding: "They said 'We love you, we're missing you, we can't wait to come home.'"The fathers last spoke to their children on 8 June, when they were in the Saudi city of Medina, he said, adding: "They said 'We love you, we're missing you, we can't wait to come home.'"
International huntInternational hunt
Police say they are "extremely concerned" for the family's safety and enquiries were continuing on a "national and international level".Police say they are "extremely concerned" for the family's safety and enquiries were continuing on a "national and international level".
This latest case follows the deaths of Dewsbury teenager Talha Asmal, who reportedly blew himself up in Iraq becoming the UK's youngest suicide bomber, and Muslim convert Thomas Evans, 25, from Buckinghamshire, who was among al-Shabab fighters killed in an attack on a Kenyan military base.This latest case follows the deaths of Dewsbury teenager Talha Asmal, who reportedly blew himself up in Iraq becoming the UK's youngest suicide bomber, and Muslim convert Thomas Evans, 25, from Buckinghamshire, who was among al-Shabab fighters killed in an attack on a Kenyan military base.
The Bradford family travelled to Medina on 28 May. The Bradford family travelled to Medina on 28 May and were last seen in a hotel in the city.
It is thought 10 of them later boarded a flight to Istanbul, but no details have been found indicating that two of the children - five-year-old Nurah Zubair and her sister Haafiyah Zubair, eight - boarded the same flight. They were supposed to fly to Manchester following their pilgrimage but the fathers reported them missing when they did not return.
Mr Khan said the last sighting of the family was at a hotel in Medina, but travel agents have confirmed that 10 tickets were bought for a flight to Istanbul. There has been no contact with the sisters for one week. Their mobile phones have not been active, nor have their social media profiles been updated.
It is not known whether the family boarded the flight nor if the two children who were unaccounted for are still with the rest of their family. Travel agents confirmed that 10 tickets were bought for a flight on 9 June to Istanbul in Turkey, a commonly-used route into Syria.
It was not known whether the family boarded the flight, said Mr Khan, nor if two children who were unaccounted for - five-year-old Nurah Zubair and her sister Haafiyah Zubair, eight - were still with the rest of their family.
Mr Khan said he had asked for CCTV footage from Medina and from Turkey.Mr Khan said he had asked for CCTV footage from Medina and from Turkey.
The 15-year-old son Junaid Iqbal was acting as the family's mahram - an appropriate male responsible for the family - during the Saudi pilgrimage, he added.The 15-year-old son Junaid Iqbal was acting as the family's mahram - an appropriate male responsible for the family - during the Saudi pilgrimage, he added.
Mr Khan is also reported in the Guardian as saying the fathers have received no help from the police and were forced to rely on their own inquiries but that was like "trying to find a needle in a haystack".Mr Khan is also reported in the Guardian as saying the fathers have received no help from the police and were forced to rely on their own inquiries but that was like "trying to find a needle in a haystack".
Bradford West MP Naz Shah told the BBC she had spoken to two of the fathers and they were "worried out of their minds".Bradford West MP Naz Shah told the BBC she had spoken to two of the fathers and they were "worried out of their minds".
"I asked them if there was any indication and they said absolutely not - it was a shock to them, it came out of the blue..."I asked them if there was any indication and they said absolutely not - it was a shock to them, it came out of the blue...
"At this time there is no contact, absolutely zero contact with the women or children. The last contact was a few days ago when they were due to leave.""At this time there is no contact, absolutely zero contact with the women or children. The last contact was a few days ago when they were due to leave."
The group were supposed to fly to Manchester following their pilgrimage but the fathers reported them missing when they did not return.
Some of the children are believed to have boarded a flight with their mothers from Medina to Istanbul in Turkey - a commonly used route into Syria - on 9 June.
There has been no contact with the sisters since then. Their mobile phones have not been active, nor have their social media profiles been updated.
Missing childrenMissing children
Missing mothersMissing mothers
West Yorkshire Police have contacted the Turkish authorities; however, there have been no sightings or contacts made in Turkey.West Yorkshire Police have contacted the Turkish authorities; however, there have been no sightings or contacts made in Turkey.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We are in contact with West Yorkshire Police and Turkish authorities and are ready to provide consular assistance."A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We are in contact with West Yorkshire Police and Turkish authorities and are ready to provide consular assistance."
Timeline of the disappearanceTimeline of the disappearance
Baroness Warsi, a former Conservative minister for faith and communities, said successive governments had failed to engage with Muslims to tackle extremist ideas.Baroness Warsi, a former Conservative minister for faith and communities, said successive governments had failed to engage with Muslims to tackle extremist ideas.
The government must uncover the "drivers for radicalisation" if it is to take on this "generational challenge", she said.The government must uncover the "drivers for radicalisation" if it is to take on this "generational challenge", she said.
Tracking Britain's jihadists
The stories of those who have died, been convicted of offences relating to the Islamic State conflict or are still in Syria or Iraq