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British teenager killed in Syria British teenager killed in Syria
(35 minutes later)
Police are investigating reports that an 18-year-old Briton from East Sussex has been killed in Syria.Police are investigating reports that an 18-year-old Briton from East Sussex has been killed in Syria.
Abdullah Deghayes from Saltdean, near Brighton, told his family that he was travelling to Libya in January but did not tell them he was going to Syria.Abdullah Deghayes from Saltdean, near Brighton, told his family that he was travelling to Libya in January but did not tell them he was going to Syria.
Deghayes, whose uncle, Omar, is a former Guantánamo detainee, is believed to have died earlier this month.Deghayes, whose uncle, Omar, is a former Guantánamo detainee, is believed to have died earlier this month.
A photo circulating among former school friends, which appears to show Abdullah dead and laid out on the ground, has been seen by the Guardian. The photo, which seems to have been taken at night with a flash, shows him from the chest up lying on a patch of ground scattered with leaves and foliage. The 18-year-old is dressed in combat fatigues and his eyes are closed, but he can be clearly identified. There is no obvious sign of injury.
His father, Abubaker Deghayes, said he learned of Abdullah's death via Facebook on Monday. "At the moment we do not have details of his death. All that we know is that he was killed in Syria. The family is mourning."His father, Abubaker Deghayes, said he learned of Abdullah's death via Facebook on Monday. "At the moment we do not have details of his death. All that we know is that he was killed in Syria. The family is mourning."
Speaking at his home in Saltdean, he said he believed his son had travelled to Libya to see family.Speaking at his home in Saltdean, he said he believed his son had travelled to Libya to see family.
"We are all in mourning. I'm trying to find out what's happened. At the moment we don't have any details. We found out on Facebook. I hope he died for a noble cause, trying to help Syria. I need to find out. I might go and travel to see," he 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.""We are all in mourning. I'm trying to find out what's happened. At the moment we don't have any details. We found out on Facebook. I hope he died for a noble cause, trying to help Syria. I need to find out. I might go and travel to see," he 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."
Deghayes said his son, who was due to go to university in Brighton next year, lived in the seaside city with his mother and had left the UK in January.Deghayes said his son, who was due to go to university in Brighton next year, lived in the seaside city with his mother and had left the UK in January.
The teenager is the nephew of Omar Deghayes, who was held by the United States as an enemy combatant at Guantánamo Bay between 2002 and 2007 after he was arrested in Pakistan.The teenager is the nephew of Omar Deghayes, who was held by the United States as an enemy combatant at Guantánamo Bay between 2002 and 2007 after he was arrested in Pakistan.
Omar Deghayes, who is currently in Tripoli, 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.Omar Deghayes, who is currently in Tripoli, 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.
He added that he had only heard one witness account of what happened to Abdullah.He added that he had only heard one witness account of what happened to Abdullah.
A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: "We are aware of the death of a British national and are urgently looking into it."A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: "We are aware of the death of a British national and are urgently looking into it."
Police were informed of his death at the start of this week and are supporting his family. A spokesman for Sussex police said: "On Monday 14 April we received information that an 18-year-old Brighton man had been killed in Syria in recent weeks.Police were informed of his death at the start of this week and are supporting his family. A spokesman for Sussex police said: "On Monday 14 April we received information that an 18-year-old Brighton man had been killed in Syria in recent weeks.
"The circumstances of this reported death remain unclear and we are in contact with the family.""The circumstances of this reported death remain unclear and we are in contact with the family."
Tributes to the teenager have been posted on social media sites. One man, Nezar El-bayouk posted on Twitter: "R.I.P. To My Boy Abdullah Deghayes. Jannah InshAllah!"Tributes to the teenager have been posted on social media sites. One man, Nezar El-bayouk posted on Twitter: "R.I.P. To My Boy Abdullah Deghayes. Jannah InshAllah!"
Another friend Miss'Newland, posted: "R.I.P this is such a shock, can not get my head around it. Everyone's gonna miss you Abdullah Deghayes. much love xxx."Another friend Miss'Newland, posted: "R.I.P this is such a shock, can not get my head around it. Everyone's gonna miss you Abdullah Deghayes. much love xxx."
Pictures of Abdullah on Facebook show a typical British teenager hanging out with male and female friends, some drinking beer. In one photograph from last year he posed with a girlfriend in the street. He worked in an Adidas shop in Brighton selling sportswear.Pictures of Abdullah on Facebook show a typical British teenager hanging out with male and female friends, some drinking beer. In one photograph from last year he posed with a girlfriend in the street. He worked in an Adidas shop in Brighton selling sportswear.