A family of 12 from Luton who were feared to have joined ISIS has released a statement to say they are now in Syria - and urged other Muslims to do the same.

The Mannan family which includes a one-year-old and two grandparents had not been seen since visiting their home country of Bangladesh on May 17.

Muhammed Abdul Mannan, 75, his wife Minera Khatun, 53, their daughter Rajia Khanom, 21, and five sons all went off the radar. Police investigating their disappearance feared they had crossed into Turkey which borders Syria.

A shocking 'press release' has now surfaced 'from the Mannan family in the land of the khilafah' says 'We release this statement to confirm that indeed we are in the Islamic State.'

It comes as a video shot in the terror group's adopted capital of Raqqa in Syria appears to identify two of the three Bethnal Green schoolgirls who quit Britain to join Islamic State in February.

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Family: The group which claims to have entered Syria include (pictured from left to right standing) Rajia Khanom, Mohammed Toufique Hussain, Mohammed Saleh Hussain, Roshanara Begum, Sheida Khanam. From left to right sitting: Muhammed Abdul Mannan, Minera Khatun

Escape: Mohammed Zayd Hussain (pictured) is believed to have entered Syria with his parents, brothers, their wives and children

The statement from the Mannan family - which appears to be a propaganda too to lure more families into the war zone - claims they are in a land 'that is free from the corruption and oppression of man made law and is governed by the shariah'.

It adds: 'Yes, all 12 of us and why should this number be shocking, when there are thousands and thousands of Muslims from all corners of the world that are crossing over land and sea everyday to come to the Islamic State?

'That are willingly leaving the so called freedom and democracy that was forced down our throat in the attempt to brainwash Muslims to forget about their powerful and glorious past and now present.'

Among the family are three unnamed children aged between one and 11 but the sons are Mohammed Zayd Hussain, 25, Mohammed Toufique Hussain, 19, Mohammed Abil Kashem Saker, 31, Mohammed Saleh Hussain, 26, and the fifth is also unnamed.

Abil Kashem Saker's wife Sheida Khanam, 27, and Mohammed Saleh Hussain's wife Roshanara Begum, 24, and two unnamed grandchildren are also missing.

It recently emerged that police raided the family home and one member was stopped from getting on a flight at Heathrow the day they departed for Bangladesh.

Friends of grandfather Mr Mannan fear they have been tricked into crossing the border into Syria.

Missing: Mohammed Abil Kashem Saker, 31, (pictured left) and Mohammed Toufique Hussain, 19 (right)

Bedfordshire Police were unable to confirm whether the family had crossed into Syria or were still in Turkey

But the statement continues: 'Don't be shocked when we say that none of us were forced against our will. In fact it is outrageous to think that an entire family could be kidnapped and made to migrate like this.

'It wasn't by the command of a single person in the family but by the command of the Khalifah of the Muslims.

Don't be shocked when we say that none of us were forced against our will... In fact it is outrageous to think that an entire family could be kidnapped and made to migrate like this Mannan family statement

'Who has called all Muslims, whether young or old, single or in families, to make hijrah to the state of Islam.

'Do not fear losing the life you built for yourselves... We call all Muslims, to rush to the command of your khalif [state]... Race to what will give you honour in this life and the hereafter.'

A statement released by relatives in the UK said they were 'devastated' and that the disappearance was 'out of character'.

UK police believe at least 700 people have travelled from Britain to support or fight for terrorist groups in Syria and Iraq - with the majority joining Isis.

Among those are Amira Abase, 15, Shamima Begum, 15, and Kadiza Sultana, 16, the three schoolgirls from east London, who boarded a flight to Turkey during half-term in February before crossing into the border into Syria.

Shocking footage which emerged last night appears to show two of them, dressed in niqabs and carrying AK47 rifles around the streets of Raqqa.

Armed: The video shows three women, including one carrying a Kalashnikov, walking through the streets

Revealed: The footage was filmed in the northern Syrian city and purportedly shows at least two of the teenagers

'Naive': One of the women in the video is wearing shoes which are similar to those Amira was seen wearing when she was seen at a bus station in Turkey

Activists who filmed the video have reportedly said at least two of the girls were on camera and the third woman is their 'handler'.

One of the women in the video is wearing shoes which are similar to those worn by Amira when she was seen at a bus station in Turkey, The Telegraph has reported.

Last month, a senior ISIS defector said the three schoolgirls were being trained for 'special missions' and are likely to die in the Middle East.

The former female commander who fled the terror group mentored the giggling teenagers whom she described as naive and unprepared for life in Syria.

The 22-year-old, known only as Um Asmah, said she met Amira, Kadiza and Shamima, who she took to an ISIS base.