UK faces pressure to bring ISIL ‘Beatles’ members back for trial

Britain is facing international and domestic pressure to put two ISIL fighters who held UK citizenship on trial for their roles in some of the notorious crimes of the group.

A former UK national security adviser has said that Britain has a responsibility to take back two British ISIL fighters captured by Kurdish forces in Syria last month, as US officials also suggest they should be tried in the UK.

Peter Ricketts, who served in the role until 2012, said: “I can absolutely understand that people don’t want these guys back, they sound despicable. On the other hand, we do believe in the rule of law and in accountability.

“They’re in a sort of stateless position. They’re not under anyone’s jurisdiction, they’re being held by an insurgency group. I think the UK does have responsibility … to put them on trial.”

The comments came as Gavin Williamson and Jim Mattis, the UK and US Defence Secretaries, were due to meet in Rome yesterday for talks between the countries involved in the war against ISIL.

But Mr Williamson said he doesn’t think the men “should ever set foot in this country again”.

Tobias Ellwood, a UK defence minister, said they should be handed over to the International Criminal Court.

While US officials have indicated a desire for the fighters to be tried in their home countries, last week it was reported that the two men had had their British citizenship revoked. US officials also rejected the possibility of them being sent to Guantanamo Bay prison.

Alexanda Kotey, 34, and Elshafee Elsheikh, 29, were members of the ISIL cell known as The Beatles, responsible for guarding and executing western hostages.

The Syrian Democratic Forces, the international coalition’s main partner in Syria against ISIL, said they had yet to receive an extradition appeal from any country for the two men.