This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29504924
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
UK jihadist prisoner swap 'credible' | UK jihadist prisoner swap 'credible' |
(35 minutes later) | |
Reports that UK jihadists were involved in a prisoner swap between Islamic State (IS) and Turkey are "credible", Whitehall officials have told the BBC. | Reports that UK jihadists were involved in a prisoner swap between Islamic State (IS) and Turkey are "credible", Whitehall officials have told the BBC. |
The Times alleges that Shabazz Suleman, 18, and Hisham Folkard, 26, were among as many as 180 IS fighters traded for 46 Turkish hostages. | The Times alleges that Shabazz Suleman, 18, and Hisham Folkard, 26, were among as many as 180 IS fighters traded for 46 Turkish hostages. |
The Turks were taken prisoner from their country's consulate in Mosul, Iraq, in June and released last month. | The Turks were taken prisoner from their country's consulate in Mosul, Iraq, in June and released last month. |
Officials confirmed Mr Suleman, from High Wycombe, disappeared in Turkey. | Officials confirmed Mr Suleman, from High Wycombe, disappeared in Turkey. |
The Foreign Office is providing consular assistance to his family but there has been no confirmation that he was one of the Turkish government-held prisoners. | The Foreign Office is providing consular assistance to his family but there has been no confirmation that he was one of the Turkish government-held prisoners. |
"We are aware that a British national was reported missing in Turkey in 2014," a spokesman said. | "We are aware that a British national was reported missing in Turkey in 2014," a spokesman said. |
The Times said it was passed a leaked list of those handed over to IS and the two Britons were among the names. | The Times said it was passed a leaked list of those handed over to IS and the two Britons were among the names. |
The newspaper alleges the list also includes three French citizens, two Swedes, two Macedonians, one Swiss and one Belgian. | The newspaper alleges the list also includes three French citizens, two Swedes, two Macedonians, one Swiss and one Belgian. |
It also suggests the prisoner agreement included IS fighters held in Turkish hospitals and prisons, as well as those in the hands of moderate Syrian rebels. | It also suggests the prisoner agreement included IS fighters held in Turkish hospitals and prisons, as well as those in the hands of moderate Syrian rebels. |
University place | University place |
Mr Suleman had been a student at the Royal Grammar School in High Wycombe. | Mr Suleman had been a student at the Royal Grammar School in High Wycombe. |
In a statement dated 3 October, the school said it had been approached by the "relevant authorities" a few weeks ago and it had fully co-operated. | In a statement dated 3 October, the school said it had been approached by the "relevant authorities" a few weeks ago and it had fully co-operated. |
It said Mr Suleman had worked hard to build on his AS grades to achieve a "solid set" of A-levels and had gained a place at university. | |
The school described him as "a very engaging and amiable student who fitted in well, forming good relationships with his peers and staff". | The school described him as "a very engaging and amiable student who fitted in well, forming good relationships with his peers and staff". |
The statement also said Mr Suleman had travelled to Syria as part of an aid convoy for a Turkish charity last summer. | The statement also said Mr Suleman had travelled to Syria as part of an aid convoy for a Turkish charity last summer. |
The Times spoke to Mr Folkard's father, described as a devout Roman Catholic. | |
He asked to remain anonymous and said he hardly knew either of his two sons as their mother "took them away". | |
He said she had let them go to Yemen to study Islam and at that point he "cut them off completely". | |
The BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner said the 49 hostages were a huge "bargaining chip" and IS must have got something in return. | |
What is not known is if the two British men were among the estimated 180 prisoners, he added. | |
The release of the Turkish hostages hit the headlines at the end of September. There were 49 in total - 46 Turkish citizens and three Iraqis - and included the Turkish consul, diplomats, special forces police and children. | The release of the Turkish hostages hit the headlines at the end of September. There were 49 in total - 46 Turkish citizens and three Iraqis - and included the Turkish consul, diplomats, special forces police and children. |
Little explanation was given for their release but Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Turkey's MIT intelligence agency had led the operation. | Little explanation was given for their release but Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Turkey's MIT intelligence agency had led the operation. |
At the time, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan did not deny reports there had been a prisoner swap and stressed no ransom had been paid. | |
The hostage release paved the way for Turkey, which shares a long and vulnerable border with Syria, to play a more active role in the US-led fight against IS. | |
Last week, its parliament backed a motion allowing its military to join the coalition in Syria and Iraq. | |
IS - also known as Isis or Isil - controls large swathes of Syria and Iraq after rapid advances through the region in the summer. | |
Since August, IS has filmed and posted online the deaths of four Western hostages who were beheaded. | |
They were US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff and British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning. |