London: A 30-year-old woman travelling with her three children was today arrested at Birmingham airport on suspicion of trying to flee to Syria to join Islamic State terrorists.
West Midlands Police said the woman was held by officers and her home address and another property are currently being searched.
A police spokesperson said: "There were three children travelling with the woman. Officers are working with partner agencies to ensure their welfare is safeguarded. She was arrested under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act."
Officers made the arrest under PACE legislation, meaning they have a maximum of 36 hours to question the suspect before charging, releasing, bailing or applying to a court for a warrant of further detention.
Scotland Yard said earlier this month that 43 women and girls are feared to have left Britain for war-torn Syria or Iraq in the past year alone.
It has also launched a hard-hitting campaign warning Muslim mothers to help police stop their daughters running off to Syria.
The news of the arrest came as another man from west London is feared to have left Britain to join ISIL after lying to his parents that he was going on an IT course.
The 22-year-old disappeared from his home in Wembley in west London on Monday, and is feared to have already reached Syria.
His distraught family, who do not want to be identified, raised the alarm when he failed to return home.
Authorities believe he travelled to Paris then to Turkey, where his parents think he aimed to try to cross into Syria.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson confirmed the force was investigating the disappearance of a man from Wembley, adding: "The 22-year-old was reported missing on Tuesday."
West Midlands Police said the woman was held by officers and her home address and another property are currently being searched.
A police spokesperson said: "There were three children travelling with the woman. Officers are working with partner agencies to ensure their welfare is safeguarded. She was arrested under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act."
Scotland Yard said earlier this month that 43 women and girls are feared to have left Britain for war-torn Syria or Iraq in the past year alone.
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The news of the arrest came as another man from west London is feared to have left Britain to join ISIL after lying to his parents that he was going on an IT course.
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His distraught family, who do not want to be identified, raised the alarm when he failed to return home.
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A Metropolitan Police spokesperson confirmed the force was investigating the disappearance of a man from Wembley, adding: "The 22-year-old was reported missing on Tuesday."
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