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Jeremy Corbyn: UK jihadist Sally-Anne Jones should have faced trial | Jeremy Corbyn: UK jihadist Sally-Anne Jones should have faced trial |
(35 minutes later) | |
A British jihadist reportedly killed by a US drone strike in Syria should have faced trial, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said. | A British jihadist reportedly killed by a US drone strike in Syria should have faced trial, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said. |
Asked if he would have preferred Sally-Anne Jones to be prosecuted, he said: "I think that people who have committed crimes ought to be put on trial. | Asked if he would have preferred Sally-Anne Jones to be prosecuted, he said: "I think that people who have committed crimes ought to be put on trial. |
"That way... when you interrogate someone, you get more information." | "That way... when you interrogate someone, you get more information." |
Jones had recruited Western girls to the so-called Islamic State after travelling to Syria in 2013. | Jones had recruited Western girls to the so-called Islamic State after travelling to Syria in 2013. |
It is understood she was killed in June, close to the border between Syria and Iraq by a US Air Force strike. | It is understood she was killed in June, close to the border between Syria and Iraq by a US Air Force strike. |
Whitehall officials have declined to comment publicly on her case, but have not denied the story. | |
The former punk musician from Chatham, Kent, had encouraged people to carry out attacks in Britain and had offered guidance on how to build a bomb. | The former punk musician from Chatham, Kent, had encouraged people to carry out attacks in Britain and had offered guidance on how to build a bomb. |
Asked about her death, first reported by the Sun, Mr Corbyn said it was unconfirmed but "quite clearly it is significant, if it has happened". | Asked about her death, first reported by the Sun, Mr Corbyn said it was unconfirmed but "quite clearly it is significant, if it has happened". |
The next steps should involve getting "everyone back around the table to get a political solution, because we cannot go on with having a war for ever". | The next steps should involve getting "everyone back around the table to get a political solution, because we cannot go on with having a war for ever". |
He said he would have preferred that Jones had faced trial, adding: "I represent a constituency that lost many people in 7/7 [the 2005 London bombings], and we remember what happened that day." | He said he would have preferred that Jones had faced trial, adding: "I represent a constituency that lost many people in 7/7 [the 2005 London bombings], and we remember what happened that day." |
Mr Corbyn, said it was difficult to answer a question about whether he would have ordered a drone strike to kill Jones if British troops had been at risk, as it was hypothetical. | Mr Corbyn, said it was difficult to answer a question about whether he would have ordered a drone strike to kill Jones if British troops had been at risk, as it was hypothetical. |
He said: "I think we have to look at very carefully the effects on the civilian population of any bombing that takes place before such a decision is made." | He said: "I think we have to look at very carefully the effects on the civilian population of any bombing that takes place before such a decision is made." |
'Legitimate target' | |
Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said he would not comment on the individual case. | |
But he added: "If you are a British national in Iraq or Syria and you have chosen to fight for Daesh [IS] - an illegal organisation that is preparing and inspiring terror attacks on our streets then you have made yourself a legitimate target and you run the risk every hour of every day of being on the wrong end of an RAF or United States missile." | |
Prime Minister Theresa May said she was "aware of the reports" around Jones's death but was "not in a position to comment further". | Prime Minister Theresa May said she was "aware of the reports" around Jones's death but was "not in a position to comment further". |
News of Jones's death has not previously been made public amid fears that her 12-year-old son, Jojo, may also have been killed in the June strike, according to the Sun. | News of Jones's death has not previously been made public amid fears that her 12-year-old son, Jojo, may also have been killed in the June strike, according to the Sun. |
The BBC's Frank Gardner said although it was "very likely" Sally-Anne Jones had been killed, it was difficult to be certain because that would require sending a special forces team to gather DNA. | The BBC's Frank Gardner said although it was "very likely" Sally-Anne Jones had been killed, it was difficult to be certain because that would require sending a special forces team to gather DNA. |
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