Row looms over fate of ‘Beatles’ suspects

The fate of two British men suspected of being members of an Isis execution group dubbed the “Beatles” could escalate into a diplomatic row between the UK and United States.

Washington wants militants captured by the coalition-backed Syrian democratic forces to be turned over to face justice in their home countries, but British ministers have resisted suggestions Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh should return to the UK to stand trial.

The two men were captured in Syria, having fallen into the hands of Kurdish militia fighters in January.

The gang is believed to be responsible for the murder of Perth aid worker David Haines and fellow humanitarian David Henvey, from Manchester.

Mr Haines had been held captive by the group for 18 months prior to his death at their hands.

He was just 10 days into a mercy mission to Syria with the French aid charity Acted when he was abducted along with Italian aid worker Federico Motka on March 12 2013.

Mr Haines was executed in September 2014, along with Mr Henvey and Americans James Foley, Steven Sotlof and Peter Kassig.

Today in Rome UK Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson and US counterpart Jim Mattis will attend a meeting of ministers from the coalition fighting Isis.

The Pentagon chief is expected to raise the issue of how to deal with captured militants during the talks.

Mr Williamson has said he does not think the so-called Beatles “should ever set foot in this country again”.

Junior defence minister Tobias Ellwood has suggested the men should be tried at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Kathryn Wheelbarger, the US principal deputy assistant defence secretary for international security affairs, said: “We’re working with the coalition on foreign fighter detainees, and generally expect these detainees to return to their country of origin for disposition.”

The Isis execution gang known as the “Beatles” is believed to have murdered David Haines in September 2014.