3 girls believed to have joined extremists

Three London girls who ran away to Syria are believed to have joined Islamic State extremists, after using stolen family jewelry to fund part of their trip, police said on Tuesday.

Kadiza Sultana, 16, and two 15-year-olds, Shamima Begum and Amira Abase, left their homes last month and flew to Istanbul, Turkey. The trio's relatives expressed disbelief at their actions.

In testimony before Parliament's Home Affairs Committee, Britain's chief counterterrorism police officer, Mark Rowley, said the girls paid a travel agent more than $1,500 for their flights.