The families of three schoolgirls who are feared to have fled Britain to join Islamic State have issued heartfelt pleas urging them not to cross the border into Syria.
Police believe there is a still a chance that Shamima Begum, 15, Kadiza Sultana, 16, and Amira Abase, 15, may not yet have crossed the border into Syria after flying to Istanbul last Tuesday.
The trio, who all attended Bethnal Green Academy in east London, are at the centre of an international hunt after being captured on airport CCTV on Tuesday.
Today, their families told the teenagers they are 'missed terribly' and urged them to not to cross the Turkish-Syrian border.
But Twitter accounts linked to Islamic State have reportedly bragged that the girls are already in Syria.
Shiraz Maher, senior fellow at the International Center for Study of Radicalization at King's College in London, said on Twitter: 'Some accounts linked to Islamic State say the London schoolgirls have already crossed into Syria.'
But he added: 'Claims unverified at this stage.'
A Twitter user replied to Mr Maher, claiming to have seen a pictured dated February that confirmed the girls have entered Syria.
The family of Amira Abase, who was unnamed until now, said: 'Amira, We miss you so much, everyone, your family and your friends.
'We want you to come home as soon as possible; all we are hoping for is you to come home safe, we love you so much.
'Please come home Amira, everyone is missing you. You are strong, smart, beautiful and we are hoping you will make the right decision.
'We miss you more that you can imagine. We are worried and we want you to think about what you have left behind.
'You had bright future, so please return home. From family and friends.'
In a message to Shamima, her family said they understood she had 'strong feelings' for those she believed were suffering in the war-torn country but warned her that Syria is a 'dangerous place'.
They said: 'We miss you terribly and are extremely worried about you.
'Please, if you hear this message, get in touch and let us know you are safe. We want you home with us. You belong at home with us.
'Syria is a dangerous place and we don't want you to go there. Get in touch with the police and they will help to bring you home. You are not in any trouble.
'We understand that you have strong feelings and want to help those you believe are suffering in Syria.
'You can help from home, you don't have to put yourself in danger. Please don't cross the border. Please come home to us.
'Our Mum needs you home and is really worried. We are not mad at you, we love you.'
Kadiza Sultana's family said they are feeling 'completely distressed' since her disappearance.
In an appeal, they said: 'Our dearest Kadiza and the two friends accompanying you.
'We, together, sincerely pray and hope this message reaches you. We pray that no harm comes to you, and you are all safe and in good health.
'We have come to learn that you and your friends went missing on Tuesday, 17 February and have been identified to be in Turkey.
'In your absence, we, as a family, are feeling completely distressed and cannot make sense of why you left home. Due to the speculation that you may be travelling towards Syria, we are extremely worried about your safety.
'As time progresses, our concerns are increasing more and more.
'We are sending you our heartfelt love, and continue to pray that you along with your friends safely return to us, or at least contact us to let us know you are okay.
'We all love you dearly and the last four days have been a complete nightmare not knowing where you are and how you are keeping.
'We would like to emphasise that we are not angry with you and you have not done anything wrong. We just want you all to return home, safe and sound.
'We miss you terribly, especially Mum, and things have not been the same without you.'
A friend of the three girls said she had no idea what they were planning.
Atlanta Broadbent, 16, told MailOnline: 'Shamima was just so sweet, and chilled. Never caused any trouble and just really clever, she was very bright.'
She added: 'I knew this was planned but no, no one knew about all this.'
Apu Miah, 27, a neighbour of Shamima’s family, said: ‘They are a nice family. The father is in Bangladesh at the moment and the mother is coping with the daughter going to Syria. She feels humiliated and does not want to show her face in public.
‘I tried talking to her about it and she did not want to. I used to see Shamima go to school every day. She was like an angel. I don’t see why she has to go to Syria to find a groom. Aren’t there grooms in this country?’
Scotland Yard was facing questions over how the girls were able to board a flight to Turkey unchallenged, despite having no parent or guardian with them.
Meanwhile, experts have raised concerns that the 'naive' girls have been lured to jihad and do not realise what trouble they are now in.
Mussurut Zia, general secretary of the Muslim Women's Network UK, said she had 'grave concerns' for the girls and warned it was unlikely they would be able to return home should they join Islamic State in Syria.
She told BBC Breakfast: 'Not for a moment do I believe the girls know what they're getting into. I don't think they will be told the true reality.
'I don't think they will be actually fighting on the front line... I think they will be used. Jihadi brides is a notion that's been expressed before - there's no root in that in religion - but quite possibly that is something they would be used for.
'I don't think there is any return for them. I don't see how they would be able to get back.'
And Rushanara Ali, the local MP for Bethnal Green and Bow where the girls went to school, said there was 'deep concern' in the local community at the way young people were being radicalised.
'There is shock in what's just happened. This is a close-knit community,' she told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.
'One of the things that we have got to do as a country is make sure that schools and teachers and parents who are concerned get advice and help.
'We need to make sure that we counter these ideologies. This is like grooming, this is child exploitation, and in the worst-case scenario they are potentially being used as weapons of war in those countries.'
The three are now believed to be travelling overland to Syria to marry jihadi fighters, but police remain hopeful that recent heavy snowfall may have prevented them from travelling all the way.
There are growing calls to tighten up security checks on youngsters flying out of the UK. As many as 550 young Britons are thought to have made the journey to join Islamic State.
Detectives took the unprecedented step of releasing the names and CCTV images of the girls – who attend the same East London school – in an attempt to save them from the clutches of IS fighters.
Today, Prime Minister David Cameron has urged schools to recognise their role in the 'fight against Islamist extremist terror' and said 'we all have a role to play in stopping people from having their minds poisoned by this appalling death cult'.
By Abul Taher, Paul Cahalan
