Labour Party councillor's son among 9 Britons accused of trying to illegally enter Syria

  • 9 years ago
The British town of Rochdale has hit the headlines once again.

One of nine Britons accused of trying to illegally enter Syria is the son of the Labour Party’s town councillor, Shakil Ahmed, according to media reports.

Rochdale man arrested at Turkish/Syrian border named as Waheed Ahmed son of Labour councillor
http://t.co/CL8S6BcGIA pic.twitter.com/CyPTH8locy— Manchester News MEN (@MENnewsdesk) April 2, 2015

Ahmed issued a statement saying he was “shocked, worried and extremely upset” to discover his 22-year-old son, Waheed, is among the accused. He said he believed his son had been on a work placement in Birmingham, saying:

“My son is a good Muslim and his loyalties belong to Britain, so I don’t understand what he’s doing there. If I thought for a second he was in danger of being radicalised, I would have reported him to the authorities.”

The group, said to include four women and children, is believed to consist entirely of members of the same family.

Syria border arrest

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