Travel guide for aspiring jihadis planning to cross the Turkey-Syria border claims the Turkish authorities ‘are in no way friends’ of the terrorist group

Islamic State (Isis) appears to have published a how-to guide for aspiring jihadis and potential recruits, advising them how best to reach Syria, what to pack, and how to deal with Turkish border security.

Counter-terrorism police confirmed on Wednesday they considered the publication on social media of the guide, entitled Hijrah to the Islamic State a threat and were seeking to remove it from the internet.

Amid an international hunt for three London schoolgirls who boarded a flight to Istanbul last week with the apparent aim of joining the militant group, the 50-page manual, circulated online this month in English, gives tips on how to successfully cross the increasingly treacherous Turkey-Syria border.

On Tuesday, the Metropolitan police said it believed that Shamima Begum, 15, Kadiza Sultana, 16, and Amira Abase, 15, had entered Syria despite the tearful appeals of their families. The teenagers, who are thought to have been lured by jihadi propaganda, were on half-term break when they flew from Gatwick airport to Turkey, a common entry point to war-torn Syria.

The manual advises potential recruits on gender-specific travel options, the packing of “vital belongings”, and suitable clothing. It denies reports of cooperation between Turkish authorities and Isis militants, claiming that Ankara has only been turning a blind eye to some Isis activities out of security concerns.

“It is important to know that the Turkish intelligence agencies are in no way friends of the Islamic State. They will try to imprison anyone they suspect of being members of the Islamic State,” the booklet reads. “The only reason members live in Turkey in some peace is because Turkey fears revenge attacks.”

However, in a section of the manual that purports to collect testimonials of foreign fighters who have made their way to Isis-held territory, one person described as a British recruit claims Turkish soldiers allowed them to cross the border into Syria.

Asked about the guide, a Scotland Yard spokesperson said: “It’s of interest to the CTIRU [Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit] and we have and we will seek its removal from websites and social media platforms.” The unit scours the web for terrorist publications.

Turkey has repeatedly come under fire for its lack of enthusiasm to join the US-led alliance against Isis. However, Ankara has recently stepped up efforts to crack down on jihadi activity after coming under intense pressure from Washington and Europe to seal the 900km (559-mile) border that has long provided a conduit for recruits and revenue to the Islamic militants.

Increased security measures, however, do not seem to have prevented the three London schoolgirls from entering Syria. On Wednesday, Nicky Morgan, the education secretary, wrote to the girls’ school Bethnal Green Academy to offer her support, saying she was aware it was doing everything possible to keep its pupils safe.

In a letter addressed to Mark Keary, the principal of the school, she said everyone was hoping for the girls’ safe return but her thoughts were also with their friends and classmates who would “no doubt struggle” to deal with recent events.

The case has caused tension between Turkey and Britain, with Scotland Yard denying accusations from deputy prime minister Bülent Arinç that Britain would be held partly responsible if authorities failed to find the girls.

One European diplomat in Ankara said Turkey cooperated “closely” with European authorities on trying to prevent potential jihadis to cross the border into Syria, but that the exchange of information “could in some cases be better on all sides”.

The Turkish government says that it has deported more than 1,000 foreign nationals from 74 countries trying to cross the border to join jihadi groups, whereas 10,000 people have been banned from entering Turkey for the same reason, according to interior minister Efkan Ala.



A 2014 UN security council report found that at least 15,000 people from more than 80 countries have travelled to Iraq and Syria in recent years to become jihadi fighters, most of them via Turkey.