‘Beatles’ may face trial in US if UK refuses to allow return

THE FBI and US prosecutors are preparing a case that could try the two captured Britons purported to be the remaining members of Isil’s notorious “Beatles” cell in an American federal court if Britain refuses to accept them.

US officials are said to be considering charges of kidnapping, torturing and killing US hostages against Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh, the Isil members, after Gavin Williamson, the Defence Secretary, insisted he did not want them to be returned to the UK.

A federal court trial is being considered as an alternative to detention at Guantánamo Bay, The Washington Post reported.

Western countries are having to confront the issue of what to do with hundreds of foreign fighters captured from the wreckage of Isil’s caliphate. Kotey and Elsheikh are being held by Western-backed Syrian democratic forces after they were found hidden among refugees last month.

America is keen to avoid becoming responsible for bringing hundreds of foreign jihadists to justice and Jim Mattis, the US defence secretary, has said their home countries should retain responsibility.

But Mr Williamson yesterday underlined his opposition to their return.

He said they had “turned their back on British ideas, British values”.

“Do I want them back in the UK? No, I don’t,” he said in Brussels. A White- hall source denied there had been a row over the fate of “The Beatles” – so named because of their British accents.