Syria schoolgirls may face charges when they come home
Police will decide whether three schoolgirls who fled Britain to join IS will face terror charges when they return home.
Shamima Begum, Amira Abase, who are both 15, and 16-year-old Kadiza Sultana disappeared from their east London homes on February 17.
The three were caught on CCTV at Gatwick Airport and video later emerged of what is believed to be the girls crossing the Turkish border into Syria.
Met Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said: "Shortly after they went missing I said, based on the fact they were still travelling out there, if nothing more came to light at that stage then there were no terrorism issues we would need to arrest them for.
"Obviously we are working with the families, trying to investigate where they are and what they are up to. And as and when they come into the west and we have contact with them we will make a decision based on the evidence at the time."
He added he would not give a running update on the case but would make a decision on whether to arrest them for terror offences when they were back in the UK.
Earlier this week it was reported that three British jihadi brides were on the run from IS, although it is not thought they are the three from east London.
Mr Rowley said police are investigating whether the reports are credible.
He said: "There's lots of supposition and rumour on the internet, and we are trying to get to the bottom of it."