Families welcome US trial for terror suspects

FAMILIES OF men allegedly killed by two British suspected IS terrorists have welcomed the news they are now likely to go on trial in the US.

No date has yet been set for when Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh, both in their 30s and from west London, will appear in court over the brutal killings of British and US citizens, which were among many filmed and beamed around the world in gruesome detail by so- called Islamic State.

Elsheikh and Kotey are accused of belonging to a cell of executioners in Syria known as The Beatles because of their British accents, and are said to be responsible for killing a number of Western captives including Britons Alan Henning and Yorkshireborn David Haines.

The victims’ families, in a statement from charity Hostage International, described a High Court ruling allowing the UK to share case information with US authorities as a “huge result for us”.

They added: “We have only ever wanted to see these two men being held accountable and brought to justice through a fair trial for their alleged actions.”

The statement was also issued on behalf of the family of British photojournalist John Cantlie, who was kidnapped in Syria in 2012 and remains missing – although reports emerged last year that suggested the UK Government has evidence he is still alive.

Home Secretary Priti Patel announced that “further evidence to support the prosecution” of the two men was “finally” sent to America following Tuesday’s court decision.

Former aircraft engineer and humanitarian Mr Haines, 44, who lived in Perth in Scotland and was born in Holderness near Hull, was beheaded in Syria in 2014 after being held prisoner.

Cab driver- turned- aid worker Mr Henning, 47, from Lancashire, was also beheaded in 2014 after being captured by extremists in Syria.