Police Appeal for Family of Six Believed to be Travelling to Syria
A British family of six thought to be ‘Syria-bound’ could have already reached Syria, according to police.
Asif Malik, 31, and Sara Kiran, 29, along with their daughter Zoha, seven, and three sons, Essa, four, Zakariya, two, and Yhaya, one, were last seen on 7 April.
The family, from Slough in Berkshire, who hadn’t mentioned any travel plans to relatives, were reported missing on 16 April.
Worries voiced by relatives have left officers “concerned” that the family’s intended destination was Syria.
Asif’s family have said they have been left “heartbroken” by the incident.
In a statement, the family said: “With the reality that our loved one Asif Malik and his family have left the UK without any notice, our lives have been completely devastated,” they said.
“We are totally distraught, upset and in shock. The greatest sadness is the decision by Asif and Sara to travel with their young family, such beautiful children.”
Directing a plea to Asif, the family added: “Please Asif, we ask you to think about what has happened and the decisions you have made. Please can you ring us or send us a message to let us know that you and the children are well.”
A police spokesman has said that there is “no suggestion [the family] were doing any fighting” in Syria.
Acting Deputy Chief Constable John Campbell has stressed at a recent Thames Valley Police press conference that this remains a missing persons inquiry and not a criminal investigation, adding that there was nothing to indicate Asif and Sara were anything but loving parents.
Mr Campbell said the family’s general direction of travel was towards Turkey though concerns exist that they may be in Syria already.
“We hope we will be disproved on that,” he said.
“We are concerned about anyone who has or is intending to travel to the part of Syria that is controlled by the terrorist group calling themselves Islamic State.
“It is an extremely dangerous place and not a place where young children should be taken,” he said.
Police have appealed for the family to get in touch.
