A young British woman held by security officials in Turkey while allegedly trying to join Islamic State militants in Syria was expected to be flown back to Britain today.
Muslim convert Jamila Henry, 21, was travelling on her twin sister’s passport when she was stopped by officers in Ankara. Ms Henry handed over Jalila’s documents to officers when she was arrested, apparently heading for the Syrian border.
The passport switch caused confusion among Turkish intelligence services who released Jalila’s name to local media after apprehending Ms Henry at a bus stop on Monday. She was facing possible arrest in the UK today on suspicion of preparing acts of terrorism.
At her flat in Balham, Jalila Henry today said only that she had been left with “loads to sort out” as her teetotal sister was awaiting deportation. Friends said the twins who went to Sellincourt primary in Wandsworth, had gone in “totally different directions” since leaving school.
Jalila is pictured on her Facebook account drinking, smoking and wearing figure-hugging dresses. She includes rapper Eminem, pop star Ellie Goulding and reality TV show The Only Way Is Essex among her Likes. Jamila, meanwhile, wears a traditional headscarf and is said to spend her spare time studying the Koran after converting to Islam in her teens.
A former classmate said: “They were very nice, friendly, hard-working girls. I can’t imagine either one of them ever wanting to join Islamic State.”
One relative said that the family had little contact with Jamila. She added: “Jalila is definitely not religious and drinks and smokes. Frankly, she’s a bit of a party girl.”
At her £500,000 home in Streatham, the twins’ mother Patricia Henry, 50, said she was “getting together with relatives” to discuss the situation. She works as a council housing officer and the twins’ painter and decorator father, Kirk Ramsammy, has recently been treated in hospital.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “We are aware of a female who has been detained in Turkey and are liaising with the Turkish authorities.”
