Briton killed fighting IS in Syria

A British man has died while fighting against the Islamic State in Syria, a Kurdish military force has said.

The People’s Protection Units (YPG) said Luke Rutter, 22, from Birkenhead, had died in the city of Raqqa on 5 July.

A video of a “final message” from Mr Rutter – who was also known as Soro Zinar – was posted on the force’s Facebook page. Mr Rutter apologised for lying to his loved ones about going to fight.

He said: “I lied to people I care about to come here. I said that I was going somewhere else, I didn’t. I apologise massively for that. Apart from that I don’t regret my decision and I hope that you respect it.”

He said he had learnt soldiering skills and the Kurdish language at the YPG academy. 0 Luke Rutter died fighting alongside the Kurds against IS