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Missing Bradford family: Fathers appeal over 'Syria' family | |
(35 minutes later) | |
The husbands of three UK sisters feared to have travelled to Syria with their nine children said they "miss and love" them as they appealed for their return. | |
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. | |
Akhtar Iqbal made an emotional appeal to wife Sugra during the news conference, saying: "I'm shaking and I miss you. It's been too many days." | |
Speaking directly to his 15-year-old son Junaid, he said: "If you watch this video, please ring me, please contact me. I love you, all of you." | |
He added: "Please, please come back home so we can live a normal life." | |
Mohammed Shoaib, the husband of Khadija Dawood, was in tears as he pleaded for his wife of 11 years to return, saying: "The kids cannot live without me. They miss me so much. | |
"The last time [we spoke], my daughter Maryam said 'Daddy, I cried last night, I cry all night for you'. And my son said: 'I miss you so much'." | |
He reassured his family: "I'm not angry, everything is fine." | |
Missing children | |
Missing mothers | |
The group went missing following a religious pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. The fathers last spoke to their children on 8 June, when they were in the Saudi city of Medina. | |
The sisters are understood to have bought tickets for a flight on 9 June to Istanbul in Turkey, a commonly-used route into Syria. | |
Assistant Chief Constable Russ Foster of West Yorkshire Police said: "We are extremely concerned for the safety of the family and would urge anyone with information to come forward and speak to us. | |
"Our priority is for their safe return; their families are gravely worried about them and want them home. One of our primary concerns is the safety and welfare of the young children." | |
North East Counter Terrorism Unit is leading the investigation into the missing family. |