This article is from the source 'independent' 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.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/portsmouth-teenager-mehdi-hassan-killed-fighting-for-isis-in-syria-9817906.html
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Teenage jihadist Mehdi Hassan is fourth Portsmouth man killed fighting for Isis in Syria | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A teenage jihadist from Portsmouth has become the fourth extremist from the city to be killed fighting with Isis in Syria. | A teenage jihadist from Portsmouth has become the fourth extremist from the city to be killed fighting with Isis in Syria. |
Mehdi Hassan, 19, travelled to the war-torn country in October last year with a group of friends calling themselves the “Britani Brigade Bangladeshi Bad Boys”. | Mehdi Hassan, 19, travelled to the war-torn country in October last year with a group of friends calling themselves the “Britani Brigade Bangladeshi Bad Boys”. |
Photos purporting to show his dead body appeared on Isis-affiliated Twitter accounts on Friday night, with fellow militants claiming he was killed fighting in Kobani. | Photos purporting to show his dead body appeared on Isis-affiliated Twitter accounts on Friday night, with fellow militants claiming he was killed fighting in Kobani. |
The Syrian border town has seen intense fighting in recent weeks, with the US-led coalition bombing Isis militants and dropping weapons to Kurdish fighters attempting to stop the group’s advance. | The Syrian border town has seen intense fighting in recent weeks, with the US-led coalition bombing Isis militants and dropping weapons to Kurdish fighters attempting to stop the group’s advance. |
The Foreign Office said it could not confirm Mr Hassan’s death but “was aware of reports about the death of a British national in Syria”. | The Foreign Office said it could not confirm Mr Hassan’s death but “was aware of reports about the death of a British national in Syria”. |
Mehdi Hassan's Twitter account The news did not reach his family, who live in Southsea, until Saturday morning as gruesome pictures of his body circulated on social media. | Mehdi Hassan's Twitter account The news did not reach his family, who live in Southsea, until Saturday morning as gruesome pictures of his body circulated on social media. |
The chairman of their local Portsmouth Jami Mosque, Abdul Jalil, said he had spoken to Mr Hassan’s relatives. | The chairman of their local Portsmouth Jami Mosque, Abdul Jalil, said he had spoken to Mr Hassan’s relatives. |
“It has been confirmed with the family that he has died. Right now they are very upset,” he told the BBC. | “It has been confirmed with the family that he has died. Right now they are very upset,” he told the BBC. |
“I am saddened and again shocked for the community about this news.” | “I am saddened and again shocked for the community about this news.” |
The teenager, a former pupil at the independent St John’s College in Southsea, flew to Turkey and crossed into Syria instead of going to university. | The teenager, a former pupil at the independent St John’s College in Southsea, flew to Turkey and crossed into Syria instead of going to university. |
His friends, Iftekar Jaman, Mamunur Roshid and Hamidur Rahman, have previously been killed in the fighting. | His friends, Iftekar Jaman, Mamunur Roshid and Hamidur Rahman, have previously been killed in the fighting. |
Mr Roshid’s death, at the age of 24, had been confirmed on Tuesday. | Mr Roshid’s death, at the age of 24, had been confirmed on Tuesday. |
People watch an explosion after an apparent US-led coalition air strike on Kobani, Syria Mr Hassan went by the name Abu Dujana in Syria and on social media. | People watch an explosion after an apparent US-led coalition air strike on Kobani, Syria Mr Hassan went by the name Abu Dujana in Syria and on social media. |
He last posted on his Twitter account @AbuDujana___ on 17 October, writing about the intensity of air strikes in Ayn al-Arab – an alternative name for Kobani. | He last posted on his Twitter account @AbuDujana___ on 17 October, writing about the intensity of air strikes in Ayn al-Arab – an alternative name for Kobani. |
“Between 20-40 us strikes daily in ayn al arab. Alhamdulillah they are spending $10's of billions...against themselves,” he wrote. | “Between 20-40 us strikes daily in ayn al arab. Alhamdulillah they are spending $10's of billions...against themselves,” he wrote. |
He had previously written about jihad and the goal of “ultimate success in the hereafter”, although his account had been deleted by Twitter several times. | He had previously written about jihad and the goal of “ultimate success in the hereafter”, although his account had been deleted by Twitter several times. |
Mashudur Choudhury, who left the UK with Mr Hassan, returned to the UK after just a few weeks and was arrested at Gatwick Airport. | Mashudur Choudhury, who left the UK with Mr Hassan, returned to the UK after just a few weeks and was arrested at Gatwick Airport. |
He has since been convicted of terrorist offences in the first such case related to the conflict in Syria. | He has since been convicted of terrorist offences in the first such case related to the conflict in Syria. |
Assad Uzzaman is believed to be the last surviving member of the “Bad Boys” still fighting there. | Assad Uzzaman is believed to be the last surviving member of the “Bad Boys” still fighting there. |
An estimated 500 Britons are among 2,000 foreign fighters who have joined Isis, which calls itself the Islamic State. | An estimated 500 Britons are among 2,000 foreign fighters who have joined Isis, which calls itself the Islamic State. |
It is waging a bloody war across Syria and Iraq to establish a hardline Islamic caliphate. | It is waging a bloody war across Syria and Iraq to establish a hardline Islamic caliphate. |
Previous version
1
Next version