As Kirstie Trup and Katie Gee’s representative in Parliament, Golders Green and Finchley MP Mike Freer was in regular contact with the teenagers’ families last week as they endured a 48-hour wait to get the teenagers home from Africa.

Ham & High: MP for Golders Green and Finchley Mike Freer says the girls were 'adhering to local customs' before they were attacked with acid. Picture: Nigel SuttonMP for Golders Green and Finchley Mike Freer says the girls were 'adhering to local customs' before they were attacked with acid. Picture: Nigel Sutton (Image: © Nigel Sutton 17 Redington Rd,London,NW37QX. Phone 020 7794 3008. email pictures@nigelsuttonphotography.com)

He told the Ham&High: “My role was to make sure the family had the support from the Foreign Office they needed. The Foreign Office provided regular updates and it appears they did a good job.

“I kept in contact with Mr Gee (Katie’s father) to make sure things were going smoothly.

“They are families that know what they are doing and were able to support their daughters.

“Obviously the families were very distressed and their main concern was to get the two girls out of Zanzibar and back home.

“After a horrible attack, it looked as though the evacuation went well.

“The families were especially distressed as they didn’t know what condition their daughters were in.

“While staying in Zanzibar, the girls, as far as we can tell, were doing everything right.

“They were adhering to local customs. It was just a horrible, horrible attack.

“I am here if they need me.”