The Charity Commission has issued a regulatory alert following recent media reports that a suspected British suicide bomber in Syria travelled there as part of a humanitarian convoy.

It has warned of the risk that charitable aid convoys to Syria may be abused for non-charitable purposes and facilitating travel for British foreign fighters. The Commission has said that it continues to be alert to the potential abuse of humanitarian aid efforts.

Michelle Russell, head of investigation and enforcement at the Charity Commission, spoke of the genuine and desperate need for humanitarian assistance to help people affected by the conflict in Syria.

However she added: “It is vital that the public continues to have confidence in the charities they are generously supporting - the Commission has previously issued advice to the public looking to donate via UK charities to help those affected and for charities responding to the crisis.

“Sadly there will always be a risk that the high level of trust and confidence that the public have in charities may be abused by others for their own ends. There is a particular risk with the current situation that charities may be used to facilitate or disguise travel to Syria for purposes not connected with providing humanitarian aid.”

The Commission has said that trustees of charities and charitable appeals providing humanitarian support need to consider whether the organising of and participating in convoys is the most effective way to deliver aid to those in need.

It also advised that volunteers receive appropriate training and briefings prior to travel to ensure that they are aware of the risks involved.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against all travel to Syria and that any British citizens in the country should leave by any practical means.

Russell has said that it is imperative that trustees ensure that staff and volunteers are alert to suspicious situations and that they carry out proper checks on both individuals and vehicles travelling.

She told The Sunday Times that more than a fifth of its 48 current terror investigations now relate to Syria.

The paper reported last week that a British suicide bomber, named as Abdul Waheed Majeed, had registered for a charity aid convoy with Birmingham charity Children in Deen, before driving a lorry packed with explosives into a city jail in an attempt to free prisoners.

Russell added: “The Commission has been engaging with, and will continue to engage with, a number of charities and charitable appeals which have been established for or are responding to the humanitarian situation in Syria to ensure that funds so generously donated by the public are properly applied and that trustees comply with the law.”

To see the Charity Commission’s regulatory alert in full see here.

Children in Deen were not available by phone for comment.