British Girls In Syria 'No Longer Together'

Three schoolgirls from London who crossed into Syria in February are no longer together, their families' solicitors have revealed.

Shamima Begum, Amira Abase and Kadiza Sultana left their east London homes for Syria, two months after a fellow pupil is thought to have left to join IS there.

And Waterford Solicitors said "some of the girls" had made contact with their families in the UK.

"They have made it known that they are safe and in good health but are no longer in the company of one another," the firm said on Twitter.

"Furthermore, they have intimated that they are unlikely to be returning to the UK in the immediate future.

"The families are grateful to know that their daughters are alive and in good health."

It comes after a senior female commander from Islamic State told Sky News she has no doubt the trio were groomed by a team of social media experts in Raqqa.

The woman, who calls herself Um Asmah and who defected from IS just days ago, was the first person to contact foreign girls crossing the border.

The 22-year-old said they will "never" go home and are more likely to "die in Iraq or Syria".

"IS is not stupid, they have educated people who know how to deal with (the) psychology of others, how to deal with the human being. All these are in IS," she said.

"They have ways to attract people - especially foreigners. Otherwise young British people wouldn't come and say they will change the flag on Buckingham Palace.

"IS have the ability to manipulate the minds of young people. If they can convince foreigners, it is even easier to convince Arabs and Syrians.

"They have freedom and everything is available - they have no need to come to Syria but they do."