‘Syria-Bound’ Brit Waheed Ahmed Arrested In UK

A British man detained in Turkey for allegedly trying to cross illegally into Syria with eight members of his family has been arrested at Birmingham Airport.Police say Waheed Ahmed, the son of Rochdale councillor Shakil Ahmed, was detained early today following his deportation from Turkey.

Ahmed is understood to have flown to Birmingham from Dalaman, according to Sky sources. The rest of the group are expected to be flown back to Britain later today.A video released on Sunday showed Ahmed apparently leaving a Turkish police station and being put on a coach.

The Foreign Office said it did not comment on individual cases.

Officers have searched at least five homes in the Manchester area, including that of the Labour councillor.

Cllr Ahmed said he thought his son had been in Birmingham on a work placement when he discovered he had been detained in Turkey.He has described him as a “good Muslim” and said his son’s “loyalties belong to Britain”.