Two British teenagers suspected of trying to travel to Syria to join the dreaded Islamic State terror group have been detained by authorities, police said on Tuesday.
The men, both aged 17, were detained by officers from the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit at their home addresses in Coventry on Tuesday morning. They were believed to be preparing to travel to Syria to engage in terrorism alongside Islamic State (ISIS) extremists.
They are currently in custody in the West Midlands Police area, the force spokesperson said. The arrests are part of a pre-planned operation and there was no immediate risk to the public, he added.
Around 1,600 Britons are believed to have travelled to Syrian and Iraqi battlefields in recent months, more than double the number previously reported, triggering concerns that some may launch attacks in the UK when they return.