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UK set for new law to stop children flying to join IS

Immigration Minister James Brokenshire said the law would disrupt people travelling to join Islamic State. Credit: Rui Vieira/PA Wire

Britain will introduce new laws on Tuesday to try to stop airlines carrying passengers who may be travelling to join Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria and Iraq, Minister for Immigration and Security James Brokenshire said.

Under the proposed new laws, Home Secretary Theresa May would be able to prevent airlines from carrying passengers, including children, believed to be travelling to take part in "terrorism-related activity" on known routes, such as those into Syria, according to a Home Office statement.

This important legislation will disrupt the ability of people to travel abroad to fight and then return. It will also enhance our ability to monitor and control the actions of those who pose a threat.

– Immigration minister James Brokenshire

The new powers are part of Britain's efforts to stop foreign fighters from entering Syria via commercial flights and come weeks after three London schoolgirls left Britain to join up with IS through Turkey.

Britain's Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism, Helen Ball, has said that at least 22 families in Britain reported young women and girls as missing in the past year, believing that they had travelled to Syria.