Two teens travel to Syria through Turkey: UK police

Two 17-year-old boys from Dewsbury, northern England, are believed to have travelled to Syria through Turkey, British police said Tuesday.

"North East Counter Terrorism Unit can confirm that West Yorkshire Police has received a report that two 17-year-old boys from Dewsbury are believed to have travelled to Syria," West Yorkshire Police said in a statement.

Since their disappearance last week, West Yorkshire Police have been supporting the families and carrying out extensive enquiries alongside the North East Counter Terrorism Unit, it said.

"We are extremely concerned for the safety of these two boys and would urge anyone with information to come forward and speak to us," said Assistant Chief Constable Mark Milsom of West Yorkshire Police.

"Our priority is for their safe return; their families are gravely worried about them and want them home,” he added.

The boys were last seen by their families early on Tuesday, March 31 and are believed to have boarded a Thomas Cook flight at Manchester Airport later that day to Dalaman in southwest Turkey, according to the statement.

Kirklees Council chief executive Adrian Lythgo said: “We are deeply concerned for these young people and will continue to work in close partnership with the Counter Terrorism Unit, West Yorkshire Police, our communities and schools to prevent and eradicate any threats and concerns.

“We need to talk openly about these risks that are posed to our young people, and to work together to protect them. Communities and families can contact police about anyone they feel may be vulnerable. This includes anyone who is showing signs of becoming radicalised, who may have returned to the UK from Syria or may be planning to go to Syria or another conflict zone.”

Nine Syria-bound British citizens set to be deported 'soon'

Nine Syria-bound British citizens who were taken into custody last Wednesday in Turkey’s southern provinces of Hatay and Gaziantep, are set to be sent back to Britain as soon as the official procedure is completed, Turkish security authorities said Tuesday. 

They were originally scheduled to be deported back to the U.K. on Saturday, after the Turkish authorities foiled their alleged attempts to illegally enter Syria and join militant groups, including Daesh.

Turkish intelligence officers said last Friday that Waheed Ahmed, 22, had flown to Turkey from Birmingham Airport on March 30, while Maboob Yasin, 23, Habib Yasin, 25, Zareeda Bi, 48, Samia Bi, 23, and four children, had flown from Manchester Airport three days prior.

They were not part of a watch list of alleged people trying to travel to Syria.

Turkish authorities are continuing with the process, which will ban their entry to Turkey in the future.

Cooperation between Turkish and U.K. police has intensified after three British girls went missing from East London in early February and reportedly arrived in Turkey to cross into Syria.

Turkey shares an 800-kilometer-long border with Syria.

Thousands of foreign fighters from all over the world are believed to have joined terrorist organizations, including Daesh, in Syria and Iraq.