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Man who tried to enter Syria 'flown back to UK'

A Labour councillor's son who was detained in Turkey on suspicion of trying to enter Syria illegally is being flown back to the UK, it has been claimed.

Waheed Ahmed, from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, and eight of his relatives were stopped by Turkish authorities as they allegedly tried to cross the border into the war-torn country on April 1.

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Councillor: Extremely upset to hear son detained in Turkey

Rochdale councillor Shakil Ahmed has issued a statement tonight expressing his shock at the news that his son is one of nine Britons who are currently being held in Turkey for allegedly trying to cross the border into Syria.

He said:

I was shocked, worried and extremely upset to hear that my son has been arrested on the Turkey/Syria border. It's a total mystery to me why he's there, as I was under the impression he was on a work placement in Birmingham.

"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 that he was in danger of being radicalised, I would have reported him to the authorities.

He's studying a degree in politics and sociology at Manchester University and has a good future ahead of him. I just want to speak to my son and get him home as soon as possible so I can find out what's going on.

– Shakil Ahmed

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