Minister: UK jihadists must face war trial

Two British jihadists accused of murdering Scottish aid worker David Haines should face trial in an international war crimes court, a UK Government minister has insisted.

Calls have been made to send Alexanda Kotey, 34, and 29-year-old El Shafee Elsheikh – part of a four-man kill squad dubbed “The Beatles” by hostages because of their English accents – to the notorious Guantánamo Bay detention centre in Cuba.

But Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood said: “We have robust rules of engagement which legitimise the killing of terrorists in theatres of operations, but once captured they must answer and be judged to a legitimate authority.”

He added: “Given the scale of foreign fighters we should consider an agreed international process involving The Hague, which ensures terrorists from any origin are transparently and fairly held account for their actions.”

The pair were captured by the Us-backed Syrian Democratic Forces as they tried to flee over the Turkish border while disguised as refugees.

Mohammed Emwazi – known as Jihadi John – was the group’s chief executioner. He was killed in a US drone strike in 2015.

Meanwhile, Mr Haines’ daughter Bethany said the best option would be for the captured pair to be “locked up” and the key thrown away.

She said: “They should never be allowed back in society because they will just recruit people and they will do this again.”