Russian girl detained while trying to join ISIS

Moscow, June 5: A Russian girl, a university student who was reported missing, has been detained in Turkey while trying to cross over into Syria, apparently to join the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, the interior ministry said in Friday.

Varvara Karaulova was detained "in the city of Kilis while trying to cross the Turkish-Syrian border" and is currently staying at the Turkish migration agency, a ministry spokesman told TASS news agency.

Karaulova, a 19-year old student of the Moscow State University, went missing on May 27 and later left for Istanbul.

Her family's lawyer said on Tuesday he believed the girl had been taken away from Russia by IS recruiters.

The search for the missing student was successful "due to the immediate involvement of all Interpol instruments and coordinated actions of the Turkish and Russian law enforcers", the ministry said.

A spokesman for the Russian embassy in Turkey said Karaulova was detained on June 4.

"The student's parents have already been informed," he said.

The interior ministry said a criminal case may be opened against Karaulova for involvement with an illegal armed group.

The police will hand over to investigators the files concerning the student with a view to open a criminal case.

"The missing person case will be closed in connection with Karaulova's detainment in Turkey," the interior ministry press centre told TASS.

"All necessary files will be collected and handed over to the investigative agencies to address the issue of opening a criminal case against the student under Articles 30 and 208 of Russia's Criminal Code -- the suspected involvement in an illegal armed group," the press service said.

IANS