A Labour councillor's son accused of trying to enter Syria illegally with eight family members has been arrested as he landed back in the UK. University student Waheed Ahmed, 21, from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, was held at Birmingham Airport in the early hours of this morning by anti-terrorism police. He was deported by the Turkish authorities and flown back to Britain on a plane packed with holidaymakers last night. Ahmed and eight of his relatives - including four children ranging from a one-year-old baby to an 11-year-old - were stopped on the Turkish border with Syria on April 1. Scroll down for video . Arrested: Waheed Ahmed, the 21-year-old son of a Labour councillor, has been held at Birmingham Airport after returning for allegedly trying to sneak into Syria with eight members of his family (pictured in Turkey) Convoy: Ahmed was seen being moved by Turkish police on Sunday and then put on a Monarch-operated Flight from Dalaman which landed at Birmingham Airport at 12.14am today . They were arrested by Turkish police within walking distance of the border with Syria in the town of Reyhanli earlier this month. Ahmed was filmed leaving Antakya police station in the Hatay Province in southern Turkey and getting on a coach to Antalya, which is 500 miles to the west, on Sunday. And he is believed to have arrived back in the UK on Monarch-operated Flight ZB 909 from Dalaman which landed at Birmingham Airport at 12.14am today. Greater Manchester Police said they are working to ensure the safe return of the rest of the group, which included four children aged one, three, eight and 11. In a statement, the force said: 'In the early hours of Tuesday 14 April 2015, a 21-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of Commission, Preparation or Instigation of acts of Terrorism at Birmingham Airport'. All smiles: Waheed Ahmed  looks relaxed as he begins his journey back to the UK after being caught trying to sneak into Syria with eight family members . On the way home: The 21-year-old, sporting a shaved head, was filmed being escorted from a vehicle . Late yesterday a 31-year-old man was arrested in Rochdale for the same offence. Labour councillor Shakil Ahmed arriving back at his home today bur he refused to comment on his son's arrest . Fellow passengers said they were held in their seats before a man thought to be Ahmed, from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, was whisked off the plane. One man who was on the flight said: 'We landed and taxied to the terminal and then there was an announcement over the tannoy. 'It said someone needed special assistance and we had to remain in our seats. 'Then a plain-clothed policeman got on the plane and escorted someone off. It was quite far away from me so I couldn't make out what they looked like. 'There were other police officers on the tarmac too and they got into a car and drove off. It all happened very quickly.' Other travellers said they saw a police van and car driving away from a side exit at the airport shortly after the plane landed. The student's father, Labour councillor Shakil Ahmed - who has been pictured with party leader Ed Miliband - previously said he wanted his son 'to come home as soon as possible'. Mr Ahmed, who sits on Rochdale Borough Council, thought his son had been in Birmingham on a work placement when he discovered that he had been detained in Turkey. Police searched the councillor's home earlier this month for clues about why Ahmed had travelled to the country. In a statement Councillor Shakil Ahmed said: 'My son is a good Muslim and his loyalties belong to Britain, so I don't understand what he's doing there. 'If I thought for a second that he was in danger of being radicalised, I would have reported him to the authorities. 'He's studying a degree in politics and sociology at Manchester University and has a good future ahead of him.' Waheed Ahmed, 21,  is the son of Rochdale Labour councillor Shakil Ahmed (pictured above with Ed Miliband) Greater Manchester Police and the North West Counter Terrorism Unit have launched an investigation to establish why the group apparently tried to enter Syria. Assistant Chief Constable Ian Wiggett said the primary concern was the 'safety and welfare' of the children, and efforts were being made to ensure a 'full safeguarding strategy' was in place upon their return. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
Waheed Ahmed, 21, was held by anti-terror police at Birmingham Airport . Student is accused of trying to take eight family members into Syria . He was arrested in Turkish border town with family, including four children .