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| Jac Holmes: Funeral for British fighter killed in Syria | Jac Holmes: Funeral for British fighter killed in Syria |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Fighters from around the world who battled the Islamic State (IS) group gathered in Dorset for the funeral of a 24-year-old Briton killed in Syria. | |
| Former IT consultant Jac Holmes first left his home to join Kurdish forces in 2015. He died in Raqqa in October. | Former IT consultant Jac Holmes first left his home to join Kurdish forces in 2015. He died in Raqqa in October. |
| The ceremony in Wimborne was also attended by hundreds of Kurdish people who had travelled in minibuses from across the UK to pay their respects. | The ceremony in Wimborne was also attended by hundreds of Kurdish people who had travelled in minibuses from across the UK to pay their respects. |
| His mother, Angie Blannin, had previously described her son as a hero. | His mother, Angie Blannin, had previously described her son as a hero. |
| Mr Holmes, who was from Bournemouth and had no prior military training, became a sniper with Kurdish militia the YPG and was one of the longest-serving foreign volunteers in the fight against IS. | Mr Holmes, who was from Bournemouth and had no prior military training, became a sniper with Kurdish militia the YPG and was one of the longest-serving foreign volunteers in the fight against IS. |
| His coffin was carried into the service by members of the Kurdish community, and dressed with flowers in the colours of the YPG. | His coffin was carried into the service by members of the Kurdish community, and dressed with flowers in the colours of the YPG. |
| There was standing room only as speeches and tributes were made, including an address by the YPG's general commander Nuri Mahmud. | There was standing room only as speeches and tributes were made, including an address by the YPG's general commander Nuri Mahmud. |
| Speaking over Skype from Syria, he said: "If Jac Holmes and his comrades did not fight against IS to defeat them, eventually IS would have the power to attack elsewhere in the world." | Speaking over Skype from Syria, he said: "If Jac Holmes and his comrades did not fight against IS to defeat them, eventually IS would have the power to attack elsewhere in the world." |
| Following the service, his coffin was taken to Poole Crematorium where friends and family paid their final respects. | Following the service, his coffin was taken to Poole Crematorium where friends and family paid their final respects. |
| Spanish fighter Arges Artiaga, who fought alongside Mr Holmes and was with him when he died, told the BBC: "I had to say goodbye to my friend, my brother." | Spanish fighter Arges Artiaga, who fought alongside Mr Holmes and was with him when he died, told the BBC: "I had to say goodbye to my friend, my brother." |
| Hanna Bohman, a fighter from Canada, added: "I flew over because Jac was one of the original volunteers to join the YPG. I had to come." | Hanna Bohman, a fighter from Canada, added: "I flew over because Jac was one of the original volunteers to join the YPG. I had to come." |
| A memorial ceremony for Mr Holmes and fellow Briton Oliver Hall, of Gosport in Hampshire, had previously been held in Syria. | A memorial ceremony for Mr Holmes and fellow Briton Oliver Hall, of Gosport in Hampshire, had previously been held in Syria. |
| Both of their bodies were repatriated in January. | Both of their bodies were repatriated in January. |