Two East London schoolgirls who fled to Syria with a friend to join Daesh have married militants, it emerged yesterday.
Police launched an international hunt for the three Bethnal Green Academy pupils, Shamima Begum, 15, Kadiza Sultana, 16, and Amira Abase, 15, after they fled Britain in February to become so-called "jihadi brides".
The families have confirmed that two of girls have since contacted them to reveal they are living in Daesh stronghold Raqqa and have married, adding the news had caused a "lot of distress".
Meanwhile a family of 12 from Luton - including three children aged between one and 11 - who went missing have also joined Daesh, it was reported yesterday.
A statement purportedly issued on their behalf by a member of Daesh said it was "outrageous" to suggest the family had been kidnapped by the group.
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