British teenager suspected of heading to Syria to join militants

A 15-year-old girl from Britain's western port city of Bristol has been reported missing and may be attempting to travel to Syria to join militants, police said.

Avon and Somerset Constabulary said detectives have been tracing the girl's movements since she left her home to her arrival in Istanbul, the biggest city of Turkey, Xinhua reported.

Louisa Rolfe, assistant chief constable of Avon and Somerset, said "there are indications she may have been radicalised".

Without giving the name of the girl, she said the police can confirm the student from Bristol has traveled to Turkey and she may be attempting to make her way to Syria.

The parents of the girl reported her missing Sep 24.

"We want to find out where she is and encourage her to return safely," the assistant chief constable said. "Our priority is to find her before she crosses the border to Syria and make sure she is safe."

In July, a pair of 16-year-old twin sisters were also reported missing by their parents in Chorlton, Manchester, who are now reportedly married to militants of the Islamic State (IS) Sunni radical organisation.

Media reports said an increasing number of young women in Western countries left their homes in recent times to join militants in the Middle East, which has become a public concern.