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LONDON — British police are appealing for information about three teenage girls who left the country in a suspected bid to travel to Syria to join the Islamic State extremist group.

Scotland Yard said Friday the three teenagers — Shamima Begum, Kadiza Sultana and a third unidentified girl, all aged 15 to 16 — flew to Istanbul, Turkey from a London airport Tuesday without leaving any messages for family or friends.

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Commander Richard Walton, head of the force’s counterterror command, said the girls are good friends of another 15-year-old girl who left for Syria in December.

He said the force was becoming increasingly concerned about a growing trend of girls and young women showing an interest in joining the Islamic State group.