IS ‘Beatles’ could face trial in UK, hints Rudd

Amber Rudd has left the door open to putting the British men suspected of being members of an Islamic State execution group dubbed the “Beatles” on trial in the UK.

The Home Secretary said she was “absolutely convinced and absolutely committed” to the idea of Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh “facing justice” after their capture in Syria last month.

Last week Defence Secretarygavinwilliamsonsaid the terrorists should not return to the UK because they had “turned their back on British ideas, British values”. His comments threatened to cause a diplomatic row with the United States.

Ms Rudd, who was speaking on a visit to the Middle East, said: “The important thing is that they have been arrested and the important thing is, to us, that they will face trial.

“I can’t be drawn at the moment on where that will be, but I am absolutely convinced, and absolutely committed, to making sure that they will face trial because the security of the UK will always come first.”