Isil ‘Beatles’ tell BBC they deny being stripped of UK citizenship

TWO ISIL jihadists suspected of belonging to the notorious “Beatles” terror cell have questioned the UK Government’s plan to have them stand trial in America.

Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh, who are currently being held by Kurdish forces in northern Syria, denied being part of the cell during an interview with the BBC.

They also cast doubt on whether they had been stripped of British citizenship – something Ben Wallace, the security minister, confirmed in the House of Commons last month.

It is the first time the pair have spoken in public since it emerged that the Government is not seeking assurances from the US that they are spared the death penalty.

The Daily Telegraph revealed that

Sajid Javid, the Home Secretary, had written to Jeff Sessions, the US attorney general, in June agreeing to share intelligence to help prosecute the men in America.

However the letter said Britain was not seeking a death penalty assurance, a decision that is now facing a legal challenge from one of the men’s mothers, given the UK’S historic opposition to executions.

Asked about the UK stance by the BBC, Elsheikh said: “What makes the British Government want a British citizen to be tried in America? Like what’s behind it?” Elsheikh also questioned whether he and Kotey had been stripped of their UK citizenship, saying: “That has not been confirmed.” However Mr Wallace confirmed it last month.

Britain believes the pair are more likely to face a successful prosecution in the US rather than the UK, partly because of differences in terrorism laws.

The terror cell dubbed “The Beatles” is alleged to have been made up of Kotey, Elsheikh, Mohammed Emwazi – known as Jihadi John – and Aine Davis.

The nickname, given by hostages, came about because of their British accents.

The cell is believed to be behind the killings of British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning, US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and US humanitarian worker Peter Kassig, as well as the deaths of scores of other hostages and Syrian regime soldiers.

During the interview Kotey said Jihadi John, who was killed by a drone strike in 2015, “was a friend of mine”. Davis is in a Turkish prison after being found guilty of fighting for Isil.

Kotey said he had no regrets about moving to Syria. Elsheikh refused to detail what he did in the Middle East, citing legal grounds.