‘Fifth Beatle’ in Isil terror cell identified
The “fifth Beatle” in the Isil cell that murdered hostages is believed to have been identified as a west Londoner called Hudaifa Elgerbouzi. The jihadist, who was killed last year in Syria, is thought to have carried out a series of kidnaps and murders alongside Alexander Kotey, El Shafee Elsheikh, Aine Davis and Mohammed Emwazi. The group were called The Beatles because of their British accents. Elgerbouzi is thought to have been the first Briton to join Isil in 2013.
THE identity of a British Isil executioner, known as the “fifth Beatle”, may have been established as a west Londoner called Hudaifa Elgerbouzi.
The Islamist, who was killed last year in Syria, was thought to be a member of the all-british terror cell responsible for a series of horrific murders in the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) caliphate.
The group – including fellow Londoners Alexanda Kotey, El Shafee Elsheikh, Aine Davis and Mohammed Emwazi, nicknamed Jihadi John – carried out some of the most notorious murders committed by Isil.
Nicknamed The Beatles because of their British accents, the gang were thought to be responsible for the kidnapping of 27 people and the murders of at least five Western hostages.
Initially it was believed there were only four members of the gang, but witnesses had mentioned other associates and sources have now suggested Elgerbouzi was also an integral part of the terror cell. He is thought to have been the first Briton to travel to Syria and join Isil after the caliphate was first declared in 2013.
Known by some of his fellow fighters as “Red Beard” because of his facial hair, Elgerbouzi became notorious for his brutality and his commitment to the cause.
But unlike some of his terrorist comrades, he always remained under the radar, reluctant to allow his identity to be shared online or in propaganda videos.
One of his close associates told ITV News: “He was a psychopath… trying to fulfil his violent and criminal fantasies with God’s stamp of approval.”
Elgerbouzi is understood to have gone to school in west London with Kotey who, along with Elsheikh, is now being held in Syria awaiting extradition to the United States. The pair could face the death penalty if convicted of terrorist offences.
According to ITV News, Elgerbouzi was a passionate Arsenal fan when he was growing up, and enjoyed going to the gym and playing football.
But he travelled to the Middle East when he was aged 20, along with an aid convoy.
He later entered Turkey from Greece, before travelling over the border into Syria, where he joined Isil in its formative days.
He allegedly travelled with Tarik Hassane, who later returned to Britain and is now serving life in prison for plotting to kill police officers, soldiers and civilians in London in a series of drive-by shootings.
Hassane, 24, who also grew up near Elgerbouzi, was nicknamed The Surgeon because he was studying medicine in Sudan.
After returning to Britain he had identified Shepherd’s Bush police station and the Parachute Regiment Territorial Army Barracks at White City, London, as possible targets for a terror atrocity.