Jury to hear case of woman accused of going to Syria with toddler

A jury has been sworn in to hear the case of a British mother accused of travelling to Syria with her toddler and joining the feared terrorist group Islamic State.

Tareena Shakil is also charged with posting messages on Twitter encouraging others to carry out acts of terrorism.

The 26-year-old is believed to have left the UK in October 2014 and was arrested at Heathrow Airport in February last year after arriving back on a flight from Turkey.

She denies all of the charges against her.

The Birmingham Crown Court trial of Shakil, originally from Burton-on-Trent in Staffordshire but latterly of Sparkbrook in Birmingham, is expected to last up to three weeks and is expected to open later.