Girls who fled to Syria ‘stole to fund travel’

Three schoolgirls who fled to Syria to join Islamic State (IS) are believed to have funded their travel by stealing jewellery from relatives, MPs have been told.

Shamima Begum, 15, Kadiza Sultana, 16, and 15-year-old Amira Abase flew from Gatwick to Istanbul on February 17 and are feared to have continued to Syria to become so-called “jihadi brides” with IS militants.

The three girls paid more than £1,000 (€1,400) in cash to a travel agent for their flights to Turkey, the Home Affairs Select Committee heard.