Medical students from UK join IS

Nine British medical students have joined the group Islamic State (IS), supposedly to work as doctors among the militants.

They all, according to TASS, organized a group on March 12 and flew from the capital of Sudan, Khartoum, to Istanbul, where they boarded a bus to the Turkish-Syrian border.

"We are confident that they do not plan to take up arms," the Turkish politician Mehmet Ali Ediboglu, who is in close contact with the families of students, said in connection with this. "Do not forget, these are future doctors. The fighting in that area in recent times has been very fierce, and there are certainly a lot of wounded."

On this occasion, the British Foreign Ministry said that they know about the incident and, if necessary, are ready to provide consular assistance. The Home Office, in turn, made it clear that after the return of the students they will not be charged with any crimes if they can provide proof that they "did not take part in armed clashes."