A COMMUNITY leader is urging Muslims in Bradford to help police trace a family of seven reported missing from the city and believed to be in Turkey.

West Yorkshire Police last night issued an appeal to trace Imran Ameen, 39, his wife Farzana Ameen, 40, and their five children whose ages range between five and 15, last seen in Bradford on October 5.

The Ameen's cousin, Arshid Siddique, said the family's sudden departure had shocked relatives.

He said the fear was that the group had gone to Syria.

He added: "What sort of a mother would take her children to a war zone?"

It is understood the couple's eldest daughter had been taken out of school a few weeks ago to be taught from home.

This morning, Ishtiaq Ahmed, the President of Bradford Council for Mosques, said he was extremely concerned for the family and particularly for the safety of the children.

He does now know the family, but hopes more information will soon come out from the community.

He said: "We are extremely concerned about the safety of the family, particularly the children. At this moment we don't have any detailed information about there whereabouts and the circumstances or where in Bradford they are from.

"West Yorkshire Police has asked us for any information that the community might have but at the moment we areas much in the dark as anyone else.

"It's important if people do have information that they contact the police. We really need to find them."

Police are working with relatives who are still in the UK and who have asked the media to respect their privacy at this upsetting time. Lines of enquiry are being progressed with the Turkish authorities.

Assistant chief constable Russ Foster, of West Yorkshire Police, said: "We would urge anyone with information about the family’s whereabouts to come forward and speak to police so the family can safely return to the UK.

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"Any piece of information, no matter how small, could help the UK or overseas authorities to locate the family so that they can be safely returned home to their loved ones."

The West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Mark Burns-Williamson, has joined the police to appeal for information to help trace the family.

Mr Burns-Williamson said: "It is obviously concerning to hear about a missing family, especially when children are involved.

"I know the police are doing everything they can to try and return the young family safely and I would urge anyone who has any information about them to call West Yorkshire Police on 101."

The disappearance of the Ameen family comes four months after three sisters from Bradford and their nine children left the UK for Syria, via Turkey.

Khadija Dawood, 30, Sugra Dawood, 34, and Zohra Dawood, 33, and their children, aged between three and 15, sparked an international police search when they disappeared after travelling to Saudi Arabia on pilgrimage.

Counter-terrorism police were involved in the investigation into their whereabouts.