- Woman from Leicester arrested by West Midlands Police at 9.40am
- Her home is being searched, as well as another associated address
- Officers are working to ensure the children's welfare is safeguarded
A 30-year-old woman from Britain travelling with three children was arrested today on suspicion of preparing to go to Syria to commit terrorism.
The woman from Leicester was arrested at Birmingham Airport by West Midlands Police at 9.40am today - and her home is currently being searched, as well as another associated address.
She was arrested under section five of the Terrorism Act - and officers said they have been working with partner agencies to ensure the children’s welfare is safeguarded.
The arrest today was made by officers under Pace (Police and Criminal Evidence Act) legislation.
A force spokesman said that this means police have a maximum of 36 hours to question the suspect before charging, releasing, bailing or applying to a court for a warrant of further detention.
The arrest is the latest in a string of interventions by the authorities as part of efforts to prevent Britons travelling to Syria.
Police and security services believe at least 700 extremists have travelled to the war-torn country - with around half thought to have returned to the UK.
Several cases have emerged in which women and children are feared to have gone to parts of Syria controlled by the so-called Islamic State.
Earlier this month it was reported that several members of the same family from Luton,
including three children, were feared to have travelled to Syria after a holiday in Bangladesh.
Scotland Yard confirmed two weeks ago that it believed more than 40 women and girls had travelled to Syria from Britain in the last year.
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