Dillon: No word on Turkey 12

“Not that I am aware of. Not at all,” he said. He was speaking with the media on Saturday at the Police Service annual sports day held at the Police Training Academy, St James. On April 28, the 12 deported national returned to this country with escorts. Initially, a group of 11 nationals left TT in June 2016, and travelled to several countries before arriving in Turkey.

One of the women who was pregnant subsequently gave birth to a baby boy. In July last year, a report in the Daily Sabah reported that on July 27, Turkish police detained the 11, said to be nationals of TT, in southern Turkey. They were held in detention since. The Daily Sabah reported the group was trying to travel to Syria to join “Daesh” another term for the terrorist group ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria).

Yesterday, Dillon said the 12 came in, six adults and six children, and “we did what we had to do based on of course international best practices to adapt to our own situation.” He reported they were interviewed and and they also had a separate meeting with the Turkish escorts that came into the country to get their side.

“So based on the information we have we take the necessary action.” Asked if the security agencies knew the whereabouts of all 12 he repeated “based on the information we have we will take the necessary action.” Security sources had informed Newsday they were having difficulty locating all of the 12 deportees. Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi told Newsday his office had received no such report though it was a matter for the special branch. He added that there is very close attention paid to all targets of interest by law enforcement agencies. He also reported that the anti-terrorism desk of the Attorney General is preparing to approach the court on other matters. “We continue to do our work with alacrity,” he added.