Syria-bound son of British councillor deported from Turkey

The son of a British local politician has been deported from Turkey two weeks after he was detained with eight other Britons trying to cross illegally into Syria, the state-run Anatolian news agency reported on Tuesday.

It said the 21-year-old man - reported by British media to be the son of Labour councillor Shakil Ahmed - was deported to Birmingham from Dalaman Airport in southwest Turkey, having been held on the Turkish side of the Syrian border.

Thousands of foreigners have joined the ranks of militant groups in Syria and Iraq, many of them crossing via Turkey.

Turkish and other security services estimate some 600 are Britons, including Mohammed Emwazi, known as "Jihadi John", who has appeared in several Islamic State beheading videos.

About half of the 600 are thought to have returned home.