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Brighton teenager Abdullah Deghayes killed in Syria Brighton teenager Abdullah Deghayes killed in Syria
(35 minutes later)
An 18-year-old British man killed in Syria "died in battle" his father says.An 18-year-old British man killed in Syria "died in battle" his father says.
Sussex Police said they received information on Monday that Abdullah Deghayes, from Brighton, had been killed "in recent weeks".Sussex Police said they received information on Monday that Abdullah Deghayes, from Brighton, had been killed "in recent weeks".
His father, Abubaker Deghayes, said he learned of his son's death though Facebook. His father, Abubaker Deghayes, said his son had gone to Syria to fight "against the dictator" and was not a terrorist.
Abdullah was the nephew of Omar Deghayes, who was held by the US at the Guantanamo Bay camp between 2002 and 2007 following his arrest in Pakistan.Abdullah was the nephew of Omar Deghayes, who was held by the US at the Guantanamo Bay camp between 2002 and 2007 following his arrest in Pakistan.
A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said they were aware of reports of the death of a British national in Syria and were looking into them. At his home in Brighton, Abubaker Deghayes said he had heard of his son's death though Facebook.
Speaking at his home in Brighton, Abubaker Deghayes said he believed his son was not a terrorist.
'Killed in battle''Killed in battle'
He said: "As far as I know, Abdullah went to Syria - without my consent or his mother's consent - to fight in Syria against the dictator [Bashar al-Assad].He said: "As far as I know, Abdullah went to Syria - without my consent or his mother's consent - to fight in Syria against the dictator [Bashar al-Assad].
"He was killed in a battle, as far as I know.""He was killed in a battle, as far as I know."
He said one of Abdullah's brothers was also injured, while another brother was unhurt.He said one of Abdullah's brothers was also injured, while another brother was unhurt.
"I never encouraged him and he went there of his own free will," Mr Deghayes said."I never encouraged him and he went there of his own free will," Mr Deghayes said.
"I am sad for the loss of Abdullah, but at the same time, I can feel some comfort as he went for a just cause."I am sad for the loss of Abdullah, but at the same time, I can feel some comfort as he went for a just cause.
"I hope he's in peace. Neither Abdullah or his brothers are terrorists.""I hope he's in peace. Neither Abdullah or his brothers are terrorists."
A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said they were aware of reports of the death of a British national in Syria and were looking into them.
'Ran away from home''Ran away from home'
He said he believed his son had travelled to Libya to see family. Mr Deghayes told the BBC he had not seen his son for "two or three months".He said he believed his son had travelled to Libya to see family. Mr Deghayes told the BBC he had not seen his son for "two or three months".
"He was a youngster who didn't communicate a lot. With parents, once they grow, they don't tell you much about their lives," Mr Deghayes said."He was a youngster who didn't communicate a lot. With parents, once they grow, they don't tell you much about their lives," Mr Deghayes said.
He said his son, who lived with his mother in Brighton and was due to go to university in the city, left the UK in January.He said his son, who lived with his mother in Brighton and was due to go to university in the city, left the UK in January.
The teenager was the nephew of Deghayes, who was held by the US at Guantanamo Bay detention camp between 2002 and 2007 after he was arrested in Pakistan.The teenager was the nephew of Deghayes, who was held by the US at Guantanamo Bay detention camp between 2002 and 2007 after he was arrested in Pakistan.
Former Guantanamo detainee Omar Deghayes said he knew very little of the circumstances of his nephew's death.Former Guantanamo detainee Omar Deghayes said he knew very little of the circumstances of his nephew's death.
"He ran away from his home... we didn't know at first," he said, speaking from Tripoli."He ran away from his home... we didn't know at first," he said, speaking from Tripoli.
'Heart was different'
He said he had heard only one eyewitness account of what happened to his nephew.He said he had heard only one eyewitness account of what happened to his nephew.
In a statement released later, he said his nephew was "just like any 18-year-old but his heart was different".
He said: "He couldn't sit still watching the news of the gross injustice taking place in Syria.
"For Abdullah it was not enough to just donate money or baby milk, he felt he needed to do more."
About 400 Britons are thought to have gone to Syria in the past two years, with an estimated 20 having died.About 400 Britons are thought to have gone to Syria in the past two years, with an estimated 20 having died.
In the past few months counter-terrorism investigators have expressed concerns about British jihadists travelling to Syria to learn how to make bombs and to handle guns.In the past few months counter-terrorism investigators have expressed concerns about British jihadists travelling to Syria to learn how to make bombs and to handle guns.
In February, Abdul Waheed Majeed, from Crawley, died when he drove a truck bomb at the gates of Aleppo Prison.In February, Abdul Waheed Majeed, from Crawley, died when he drove a truck bomb at the gates of Aleppo Prison.
The father of three travelled to Syria last July as a driver for a nationwide aid convoy, taking supplies to refugee camps along the border with Turkey.The father of three travelled to Syria last July as a driver for a nationwide aid convoy, taking supplies to refugee camps along the border with Turkey.
He spent six months in the region, sending his family regular reports of construction work he was undertaking to improve camp sanitation.He spent six months in the region, sending his family regular reports of construction work he was undertaking to improve camp sanitation.
More than 30 people have been arrested this year as police step up operations to stop British nationals from fighting in Syria.More than 30 people have been arrested this year as police step up operations to stop British nationals from fighting in Syria.