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Bradford family: Police 'complicit in radicalising sisters' Bradford family: Police 'complicit in radicalising sisters'
(35 minutes later)
UK police were "complicit" in the "grooming and radicalising" of three Bradford sisters believed to be in Syria with their nine children, solicitors for their families say.UK police were "complicit" in the "grooming and radicalising" of three Bradford sisters believed to be in Syria with their nine children, solicitors for their families say.
Officers "actively" encouraged the women to contact their brother thought to be fighting in Syria, solicitors said in a letter to MP Keith Vaz.Officers "actively" encouraged the women to contact their brother thought to be fighting in Syria, solicitors said in a letter to MP Keith Vaz.
There was "reckless disregard" for the consequences of such contact, they say.There was "reckless disregard" for the consequences of such contact, they say.
West Yorkshire Police said it completely rejected the claims.West Yorkshire Police said it completely rejected the claims.
Assistant Chief Constable Russ Foster said: "We completely reject accusations that the police were complicit in the alleged grooming of the missing family or that we were oppressive to them."Assistant Chief Constable Russ Foster said: "We completely reject accusations that the police were complicit in the alleged grooming of the missing family or that we were oppressive to them."
Smuggled into SyriaSmuggled into Syria
Khadija, Sugra and Zohra Dawood and their children went missing on 9 June.Khadija, Sugra and Zohra Dawood and their children went missing on 9 June.
An Islamic State (IS) smuggler in charge of some of the border operations has since told the BBC they have been taken into Syria in two groups.An Islamic State (IS) smuggler in charge of some of the border operations has since told the BBC they have been taken into Syria in two groups.
He said the first group crossed from Turkey into Syria on Wednesday, while the second followed on Thursday.He said the first group crossed from Turkey into Syria on Wednesday, while the second followed on Thursday.
In the letter to Mr Vaz - chairman of the Home Affairs Committee - solicitors representing Mr Shoaib and Mr Iqbal said they were "extremely disappointed" with the way the case had been handled.In the letter to Mr Vaz - chairman of the Home Affairs Committee - solicitors representing Mr Shoaib and Mr Iqbal said they were "extremely disappointed" with the way the case had been handled.
They expressed "grave concerns" that officers from the North East Counter Terrorism Unit (NECTU) had allegedly been "actively promoting and encouraging" the three sisters to contact their brother, Ahmed Dawood.They expressed "grave concerns" that officers from the North East Counter Terrorism Unit (NECTU) had allegedly been "actively promoting and encouraging" the three sisters to contact their brother, Ahmed Dawood.
He is believed to be fighting with extremists in the country, parts of which are controlled by Islamic State militants.He is believed to be fighting with extremists in the country, parts of which are controlled by Islamic State militants.
"It would appear that there has been a reckless disregard as to the consequences of any such contact on the families," solicitors said."It would appear that there has been a reckless disregard as to the consequences of any such contact on the families," solicitors said.
The letter continued: "Plainly, by the NECTU allowing this contact they have been complicit in the grooming and radicalising of the women."The letter continued: "Plainly, by the NECTU allowing this contact they have been complicit in the grooming and radicalising of the women."
Labour MP Mr Vaz told the Mail on Sunday the claims were "concerning".
"That three women could disappear from the UK to take nine children into the heart of a war zone is incomprehensible.
"The claims of their relatives in the UK that their links with IS were 'encouraged' by the authorities is concerning," he said.
BBC correspondent Danny Savage said the letter "raises questions that the police now have to answer".BBC correspondent Danny Savage said the letter "raises questions that the police now have to answer".
'Extensive enquiries''Extensive enquiries'
The three sisters and their children went missing following a religious pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.The three sisters and their children went missing following a religious pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
They travelled to the Saudi city of Medina on 28 May and were last seen in a hotel in the city.They travelled to the Saudi city of Medina on 28 May and were last seen in a hotel in the city.
The family was supposed to fly back to Manchester following their pilgrimage, but their husbands reported them missing when they did not return. The men had last spoken to their children on 8 June.The family was supposed to fly back to Manchester following their pilgrimage, but their husbands reported them missing when they did not return. The men had last spoken to their children on 8 June.
On Tuesday, two of the women's husbands made an emotional appeal for them to return.On Tuesday, two of the women's husbands made an emotional appeal for them to return.
Akhtar Iqbal and Mohammed Shoaib said they "could not live" without their families and begged them to come home.Akhtar Iqbal and Mohammed Shoaib said they "could not live" without their families and begged them to come home.
NECTU said it was "continuing to make extensive enquiries" in order to try to bring the women and children home.NECTU said it was "continuing to make extensive enquiries" in order to try to bring the women and children home.