Two London teens have married IS fighters: lawyer

London

 Two of three teenage girls who travelled from Britain to Syria sparking criticism of the police response have married Islamic State (IS) group fighters, the lawyer for their families said yesterday.

 Kadiza Sultana, 16, and 15-year-olds Shamima Begum and Amira Abase left their homes in February and flew to Istanbul before crossing into Syria.

 Two of the trio have been in touch with their families to say they have married men in ceremonies approved by IS and are living in and around the Syrian city of Raqqa, the group's stronghold, the Guardian reported.

 Two of the teenagers have been allowed to tell their families that they have been married and are living in the war-torn country. One phoned and another used a social media platform to tell the loved ones the news that they have been dreading, the Guardian reported.

 The schoolgirls say that they have been separated and have been living apart for several weeks, in and around Raqqa, Syria.

 However, the newspaper did not identify which two of the three had got married at the families' request.

 Tasnime Akunjee, who represents the families, told the Guardian that the news had "caused a lot of distress."

 "It entrenches their lives in Syria, rather than in Britain. It erodes significantly hopes that they will come back," he added.

 The paper reported that the two teenagers were given a "catalogue" of men to choose from and that their husbands were in their 20s.

 All three of the girls attended the same school in east London, Bethnal Green Academy.