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| British teenager Abdullah Deghayes 'killed in Syria conflict' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Officials are investigating the death of a British teenager believed to have been killed in conflict in Syria. | Officials are investigating the death of a British teenager believed to have been killed in conflict in Syria. |
| Police on Friday said they received reports earlier this week that 18-year-old Abdullah Deghayes had been killed in the country in recent weeks, although the circumstances of his death remain unclear. | |
| The teenager, who was due to go to university but had run away from his Brighton home in January, is the nephew of former Guantanamo Bay detainee Omar Deghayes - who was held by the US as an enemy combatant between 2002 and 2007. | |
| His family confirmed his death to local newspaper The Argus but said that they did not know he had travelled to the war-torn country. | His family confirmed his death to local newspaper The Argus but said that they did not know he had travelled to the war-torn country. |
| The Foreign Office have said they are urgently looking into the matter, in light of concerns about the hundreds of Britons who have journeyed to Syria to take part in jihad, or holy war. | The Foreign Office have said they are urgently looking into the matter, in light of concerns about the hundreds of Britons who have journeyed to Syria to take part in jihad, or holy war. |
| Abdullah’s father, Abubaker Deghayes, said he learned of his son’s death through Facebook. | Abdullah’s father, Abubaker Deghayes, said he learned of his son’s death through Facebook. |
| Speaking at his home in Brighton, he said: “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 Brighton, he said: “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." |
| The BBC reported that one of Abdullah's brothers was also injured, while another brother was unhurt. | The BBC reported that one of Abdullah's brothers was also injured, while another brother was unhurt. |
| Mr Deghayes said young people travelling to Syria from the UK were going “on their own conviction”. | Mr Deghayes said young people travelling to Syria from the UK were going “on their own conviction”. |
| He said: “Obviously the British government is concerned about terrorism and people learning how to use weapons, but why don't they ever think of it in a positive way? Maybe one day these youngsters will fight for a British government.” | He said: “Obviously the British government is concerned about terrorism and people learning how to use weapons, but why don't they ever think of it in a positive way? Maybe one day these youngsters will fight for a British government.” |
| He added that his sons had previously been in trouble with police but they were not involved in any groups encouraging people in the UK to fight in Syria. | He added that his sons had previously been in trouble with police but they were not involved in any groups encouraging people in the UK to fight in Syria. |
| Earlier Mr Deghayes said he initially believed Abdullah, who lived with his mother in the seaside town, had travelled to Libya to see family. | Earlier Mr Deghayes said he initially believed Abdullah, who lived with his mother in the seaside town, had travelled to Libya to see family. |
| “We are all in mourning,” he said. | “We are all in mourning,” he said. |
| “I'm trying to find out what's happened. | “I'm trying to find out what's happened. |
| "At the moment we don't have any details. We found out on Facebook. | "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. | “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 was a youngster who didn't communicate a lot. With parents, once they grow, they don't tell you much about their lives." | "He was a youngster who didn't communicate a lot. With parents, once they grow, they don't tell you much about their lives." |
| The teenager’s uncle Omar Deghayes, who is currently in Tripoli, said he had only heard one eyewitness account of what happened to Abdullah. | The teenager’s uncle Omar Deghayes, who is currently in Tripoli, said he had only heard one eyewitness account of what happened to Abdullah. |
| He said: "Abdullah Deghayes was a young man full of life, he had a bright future ahead, he was just like any 18-year-old, but his heart was different. | He said: "Abdullah Deghayes was a young man full of life, he had a bright future ahead, he was just like any 18-year-old, but his heart was different. |
| “He couldn't sit still watching the news of the gross injustice taking place in Syria. | “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. | "For Abdullah it was not enough to just donate money or baby milk, he felt he needed to do more. |
| “Abdullah was a family man, and was dearly loved by everyone especially the children of the family, very kind and caring. | “Abdullah was a family man, and was dearly loved by everyone especially the children of the family, very kind and caring. |
| "He packed and flew without consulting the family or leaving any choice, to receive the news about how he sacrificed his life in defence for children at the age of his one-year-old sister. | "He packed and flew without consulting the family or leaving any choice, to receive the news about how he sacrificed his life in defence for children at the age of his one-year-old sister. |
| “Abdullah's twin brother Abdur-Rahman received it the hardest, he has been crying so much.... and it's not like him to isolate himself and cry. Abdullah paid his life, he had everything a young man could want in life, but he cared. Our hearts will ache for him forever.” | “Abdullah's twin brother Abdur-Rahman received it the hardest, he has been crying so much.... and it's not like him to isolate himself and cry. Abdullah paid his life, he had everything a young man could want in life, but he cared. Our hearts will ache for him forever.” |
| A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: “We are aware of the death of a British national and are urgently looking in to it.” | A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: “We are aware of the death of a British national and are urgently looking in to it.” |
| Police were informed of his death at the start of this week and are supporting his family. | 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. | 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." |
| Around 400 Britons are believed to have gone to Syria over the last two years, authorities believe, with an estimated 20 having died. | Around 400 Britons are believed to have gone to Syria over the last two years, authorities believe, with an estimated 20 having died. |
| Counter-terrorism investigators have expressed concern in recent months about aspiring British jihadis travelling to the country and becoming radicalised. | Counter-terrorism investigators have expressed concern in recent months about aspiring British jihadis travelling to the country and becoming radicalised. |
| In January alone, 16 people were arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences related to Syria compared with 24 arrests in the whole of last year. | In January alone, 16 people were arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences related to Syria compared with 24 arrests in the whole of last year. |
| MI5 director-general Andrew Parker told MPs last year that the civil war has been a magnet for hundreds of British nationals looking for the opportunity for "jihadi" activity, many of whom have come into contact with al-Qa'ida-supporting groups before returning to the UK. It is believed around 250 of the 400 who went to Syria have now returned. | MI5 director-general Andrew Parker told MPs last year that the civil war has been a magnet for hundreds of British nationals looking for the opportunity for "jihadi" activity, many of whom have come into contact with al-Qa'ida-supporting groups before returning to the UK. It is believed around 250 of the 400 who went to Syria have now returned. |
| Those who have died include one man suspected of carrying out a suicide attack. | Those who have died include one man suspected of carrying out a suicide attack. |
| Additional reporting by agencies | Additional reporting by agencies |