Baby son of IS bride believed to have died, says lawyer

Reports of death disputed by Kurdish-led forces in war-torn country

The baby of Islamic State runaway Shamima Begum is believed to have died, her family’s lawyer has said citing unconfirmed reports.

Buttheasyetunverifiedclaimwasmet with some scepticism, with a military group on the ground in northern Syria reporting she is “alive and healthy”.

Ms Begum, 19, gave birth to the boy in a refugee camp in the middle of February, having already lost two children.

Yesterday, her family’s lawyer Tasnime Akunjee said they had received “strong but as yet unconfirmed reports” the baby had died, adding: “He was a British citizen.”

But Mustafa Bali, who runs the Syrian Democratic Forces’ press operation, tweeted: “Leaks said that ISIS bride Shamima’s son died are fake. The bebe is alive and healthy.”

Mr Akunjee did not return phone calls and neither the Foreign Office or the Home Office were able to confirm or deny reports.

Ms Begum was 15 when she and two other schoolgirls went to join the terror group in February 2015.

She resurfaced heavily pregnant in a refugee camp in northern Syria last month and spoke of her desire to return to the UK, as the self-styled caliphate collapsed.

Onfebruary17, herfamilyannounced the boy’s birth and said they believed he was “in good health”.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid stripped the British citizenship of Ms Begum – who is from Bethnal Green in east London – amid a fierce national debate over whether she should be allowed to return.

Her family, who pledged to appeal against the decision, also wrote to Mr Javid pleading with him to allow a safe passage for the boy to come to the UK.