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Plea To Family Who May Be Heading To Syria

Relatives of a missing family believed to be on their way to Syria have begged them to return home.

Asif Malik, 31, his partner Sara Kiran, 29, and their four children were seen boarding a ferry from Dover to Calais on 8 April before travelling south through Europe by train, police say.

The children are seven-year-old girl Zoha and three boys - Essa, four, Zakariya, two, and one-year-old Yhaya.

Their relatives said they were "heartbroken" about their disappearance.

"With the reality that our loved one Asif Malik and his family have left the UK without any notice, our lives have been completely devastated," they said in a statement issued through Thames Valley Police.

"We are totally distraught, upset and in shock.

"The greatest sadness is the decision by Asif and Sara to travel with their young family, such beautiful children.

"Please Asif, we ask you to think about what has happened and the decisions you have made.

"Please can you ring us or send us a message to let us know that you and the children are well.

"All we wish for is your safe return and especially the return of the children. We are not angry with you, we are just heartbroken.

"We ask that if there are others out there considering leaving the UK in this manner, please consider the impact on the family members that you leave behind."

The appeal comes as police released new CCTV images of the family in Dover, where they boarded a ferry to Calais in France, at 12.30am on 8 April.

The family, from Slough in Berkshire, were reported missing to police on 16 April.

They were then thought to have travelled south through Europe, possibly by train, including through Budapest in Hungary, on or around 12 April.

Police have revealed Mr Malik had previously told wider family "he would like to live in a Muslim country".

Thames Valley Police Acting Deputy Chief Constable John Campbell said: "We are extremely concerned for the safety of this family, especially the four young children.

"We are reaching out to Asif and Sara, in the hope that they hear our messages and we encourage them to make contact with us so we can return them safely to their families who are extremely worried about them."

The couple left Slough during half term without mentioning any holiday or travel plans to family members, which is entirely out of character, said police.

"Given the online rhetoric from the Islamic State encouraging people to travel to Syria, the direction of travel and concerns voiced by Asif's family, we are concerned the family may be seeking to travel to Syria," Mr Campbell said.

He added: "I'm not suggesting they're intending to join IS. I don't think there's anything we would say that would suggest that."

Anyone with information should call Thames Valley Police on 101 quoting reference number 342 (19/4).