- Waheed Ahmed, 21, detained alongside eight family members in Turkey
- Rochdale Labour councillor Shakil Ahmed's son accused of fleeing to Syria
- He was arrested in Turkish border town with family, including four children
- Will return to UK on a flight to Manchester from Dalaman later this evening
The son of a Labour councillor who was detained in Turkey after apparently trying to sneak into Syria with eight family members was seen grinning as he began his journey back to Britain.
Waheed Ahmed, 21, who is the son of Rochdale politician Shakil Ahmed, was arrested with eight relatives – including four children – in a remote Turkish border town earlier this month.
However, it is understood he is now returning to the UK and will fly from Dalaman into Manchester Airport .
All smiles: Waheed Ahmed looks relaxed as he begins his journey back to the UK after being caught trying to sneak into Syria with eight family members
On the way home: The 21-year-old, sporting a shaved head, was filmed being escorted from a vehicle
Sky News reported that the remaining eight members of his family will remain in Turkey until Tuesday.
The majority of the family flew to Turkey on March 27 from Manchester Airport and are accused of having plans to try and sneak across the border into Syria.
Waheed did not fly out with his family but joined them three days later on a flight from Birmingham.
Mohammed Shafiq, a friend of Waheed's father, said there were concerns about his behaviour in the months leading up to his arrest.
He told Sky News: 'There were concerns in the last six months to a year about a change in his behaviour.
'And a change in his attitude towards various different issues.
'That was causing concern for people in the community and his family.'
Earlier this month, Waheed's father spoke of his shock after being told that his son is suspected of being a militant Islamist.
He said: 'All I know is that they were on holiday and then the next thing I am told is that they have been arrested.'
Mr Ahmed was with his aunt, two cousins and one of their wives when they were stopped in Turkey, near the Syrian border
Waheed Ahmed, the 21-year-old son of Labour Councillor Shakil Ahmed, is understood to be returning to the UK on a flight to Manchester from Dalaman tonight following his arrest for allegedly trying to sneak into Syria
The nine Britons, who include three men, two women and four children aged between one and 11, were seized in Hatay province, in southern Turkey.
It shares a border with part of Syria controlled by rebel factions including those linked to Al Qaeda and ISIS.
All of those held are from Rochdale and are the biggest family group caught attempting to enter the unstable territory.
Counter terrorism officers at Greater Manchester Police began an investigation into their movements and the extended family group were detained at a checkpoint in Ogulpinar earlier this month.
A senior officer questioned why anyone would take children so young 'and vulnerable' into a warzone.
The three men and two women, aged between 21 and 47, were taken to a hospital with their children, aged one, three, eight and 11.
Waheed (pictured) was detained in Turkey alongside his aunt, two cousins and one of his cousin's wives
The nine Britons - four of them children – were seized by Turkish security forces as they tried to slip into Syria
Officials said they would be photographed and fingerprinted before being deported back to the UK.
At the time, photographs showed Waheed, dressed in traditional robes and wearing heavy boots, leading the group from a minibus into a police station.
Several women, all wearing headscarfs which covered their faces, could be seen carrying children. Most of the party were wearing walking boots, perfect for trekking across the rugged region.
Shakil Ahmed, a bakery delivery driver, is a councillor in Kingsway and served alongside Karen Danczuk, wife of Rochdale MP Simon Daczuk, until her resignation in January.
Speaking as he delivered election campaign leaflets earlier this month, he said he recognised his son in online newspaper reports of his arrest.
He said the others arrested included Waheed's aunt, Zadia Bi, 50, and two of her sons and one of their wives.
He said: 'I don't know why they have been arrested. We have no information. Until they ring we will not know what has happened.'
He said that he had seen his son's photograph and when asked about one picture of his son laughing, he replied: 'Well, they went on holiday so they shouldn't be crying on holiday should they?'
He added: 'I don't believe my son was on his way to join Islamic State. I was shocked, worried and extremely upset to hear that my son has been arrested.
'It's a total mystery to me why he's there, as I was under the impression he was on a work placement in Birmingham.
'My son is a good Muslim and his loyalties belong to Britain. If I thought for a second that he was in danger of being radicalised, I would have reported him to the authorities.'
The councillor added: 'He's studying a degree in politics and sociology at Manchester University and has a good future ahead of him.
I just want to speak to my son and get him home as soon as possible.'
Waheed apparently called his devastated father to break the news he had been arrested.
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