Shamima Begun, Amira Abase and Kadiza Sultana.
London Evening Standard/London
Three London schoolgirls who ran away to join Islamic State were probably groomed by highly co-ordinated social media experts, a woman IS female commander who met them before defecting claimed yesterday.
In her first interview, the senior female commander said she was surprised by how young and naive the British girls were. She said it was her job to meet foreigners arriving in Syria and introduce them to life under the IS.
The 22-year-old defector claimed that after meeting the girls she delivered them to a base in Raqqa where they began training for “special missions”.
The woman calling herself Um Asmah said Shamima Begum, 15, Kadiza Sultana, 16, and Amira Abase, 15, were probably groomed by the IS team of web experts in Raqqa.
She told Sky News: “IS has a well-structured grooming system that can psychologically target vulnerable youngsters like the three British girls.”
Um Asmah said the IS propaganda and grooming machine consists of foreign fighters working in Raqqa Internet cafes in shifts which are co-ordinated to world timezones.
She went on: “IS is not stupid, they have educated people who know how to deal with (the) psychology of others, how to deal with the human being.
“They have ways to attract people, especially foreigners. Otherwise young British people wouldn’t come and say they will change the flag on Buckingham Palace.
“IS have the ability to manipulate the minds of young people. If they can convince foreigners, it is even easier to convince Arabs and Syrians.”
The woman said foreign fighters are taught to undertake missions in Syria and Iraq and also to travel back to Europe and carry out attacks.
She is unsure where the girls are now, but doubts they have been married off to IS fighters “unless they wanted to”.
Um Asmah now lives in fear of IS tracking her down. “I am a traitor now,” she said.
“I am scared every day, every minute and of everyone I meet. I am a young girl. I want to live my life, I want to travel, go to cafes, meet friends like any normal girl.”
Asked if the three Londoners will be allowed to return home, she replied “never”: “Everything is already decided for you and you cannot evade it or refuse it. You cannot have a mind of your own. You have to follow their orders.”
The three girls fled to Syria via Turkey, after running away from their homes in London at the start of the year.
