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| US woman killed in Syria 'could have been brainwashed' says grandmother | US woman killed in Syria 'could have been brainwashed' says grandmother |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The family of an American woman killed while fighting with rebel forces in Syria have spoken of their shock and said she had converted to Islam after marrying a Muslim man. | The family of an American woman killed while fighting with rebel forces in Syria have spoken of their shock and said she had converted to Islam after marrying a Muslim man. |
| Nicole Lynn Mansfield, 33, was one of three westerners reportedly killed in Idlib province in the north of the country. Syrian TV reported that they were killed earlier this week, and implied that all three were fighting alongside the al-Nusra group, an affiliate of al-Qaida. | Nicole Lynn Mansfield, 33, was one of three westerners reportedly killed in Idlib province in the north of the country. Syrian TV reported that they were killed earlier this week, and implied that all three were fighting alongside the al-Nusra group, an affiliate of al-Qaida. |
| Speaking from the family hometown of Flint, Michigan, relatives of Mansfield said they did not know who she had been with and were not even aware that she was in the region. | Speaking from the family hometown of Flint, Michigan, relatives of Mansfield said they did not know who she had been with and were not even aware that she was in the region. |
| "I didn't think she was (a terrorist), but God only knows," her aunt, Monica Mansfield-Speelman, told the Detroit Free Press. | "I didn't think she was (a terrorist), but God only knows," her aunt, Monica Mansfield-Speelman, told the Detroit Free Press. |
| "I'm just devastated," she added in comments to the Reuters news agency. | "I'm just devastated," she added in comments to the Reuters news agency. |
| But her grandmother Carole Mansfield told the newspaper that although Mansfield possessed "a heart of gold", she was "weak-minded". "I think she could have been brainwashed," she claimed. | But her grandmother Carole Mansfield told the newspaper that although Mansfield possessed "a heart of gold", she was "weak-minded". "I think she could have been brainwashed," she claimed. |
| The FBI informed the 33-year-old's parents of her death on Thursday, relatives said. | The FBI informed the 33-year-old's parents of her death on Thursday, relatives said. |
| Syrian TV footage of the aftermath of the fighting showed a black VW Golf – in which the Westerners had reportedly been travelling – riddled with bullets. A British man named as Ali Almanasfi is also thought to have been amongst the dead. The identity and nationality of the third person killed has not been revealed. | Syrian TV footage of the aftermath of the fighting showed a black VW Golf – in which the Westerners had reportedly been travelling – riddled with bullets. A British man named as Ali Almanasfi is also thought to have been amongst the dead. The identity and nationality of the third person killed has not been revealed. |
| Reports suggested that Kalashnikovs were retrieved from the scene. Nicole Lynn Mansfield was identified from a driving license and her US passport, according to Syrian reports. | Reports suggested that Kalashnikovs were retrieved from the scene. Nicole Lynn Mansfield was identified from a driving license and her US passport, according to Syrian reports. |
| Family members in Flint told reporters that Mansfield had been brought up a Baptist but converted to Islam after getting married to an Arab immigrant several years ago. After the marriage ended, Mansfield-Speelman, said her niece remained a Muslim and had visited Dubai about three years ago. | Family members in Flint told reporters that Mansfield had been brought up a Baptist but converted to Islam after getting married to an Arab immigrant several years ago. After the marriage ended, Mansfield-Speelman, said her niece remained a Muslim and had visited Dubai about three years ago. |
| It remains unclear how or when she and her companions entered Syria, though it is thought likely that they went in from Turkey. | It remains unclear how or when she and her companions entered Syria, though it is thought likely that they went in from Turkey. |
| It is not known which arm of the opposition in Syria Mansfield was fighting with. "I didn't think she would stoop that low to go over there and try to harm anybody," her aunt said. | It is not known which arm of the opposition in Syria Mansfield was fighting with. "I didn't think she would stoop that low to go over there and try to harm anybody," her aunt said. |
| On Facebook, a woman who says she is Manfield's daughter, Triana Lynn Mansfield, posted a series of pictures which appeared to be of the pair together and posted a message in her memory: | On Facebook, a woman who says she is Manfield's daughter, Triana Lynn Mansfield, posted a series of pictures which appeared to be of the pair together and posted a message in her memory: |
| "I love you forever and always mom, I will never forget everything you taught me. I wish I could honour in some other way but I have no control what happens to you now. I will try to not give up on life even though I really want to. I just want to see your face, hear your voice, and touch your skin again. But I'll stay strong. And you will never be forgotten." | "I love you forever and always mom, I will never forget everything you taught me. I wish I could honour in some other way but I have no control what happens to you now. I will try to not give up on life even though I really want to. I just want to see your face, hear your voice, and touch your skin again. But I'll stay strong. And you will never be forgotten." |
| In a statement Friday, the US Department of Sate would only say that it was "aware of the reports" relating to the death of a US citizen. | |
| Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki added: "We are not able to confirm the death at this time, in light of the security situation in Syria and given that we do not have consular officers on the ground." | |
| She went on to thank the work of the Czech mission in Syria for assisting the US in the matter. | |
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