Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Captured ISIS Beatles' accuse UK of denying them fair trial

Two British Islamic State recruits, members of the so-called Beatles gang of jihadis who were captured in Syria, have accused the UK government of denying them a fair trial by revoking their citizenship, media reports said today

Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh, both from west London, were captured in eastern Syria by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces and are now being held in northern Syria.


In an interview from captivity quoted across UK media today, the duo said the UK government's decision to withdraw their citizenship was "illegal" and opened them up to "torture".

"Being taken to any foreign land and treated in any way and having nobody to vouch for you. When you have these two guys who don't even have any citizenship... if we just disappear one day, where is my mum going to go and say where is my son," said Elsheikh.

He spoke of his membership of ISIS but did not admit to belonging to a four-member Beatles cell or to having been involved in the kidnappings or killings of western hostages associated with the British jihadi group.

Elsheikh branded the allegations "propaganda" and denounced the media for spreading stories of an alleged Beatles cell.

"No fair trial, when I am 'the Beatle' in the media. No fair trial," he said.

US officials believe "the Beatles" ISIS cell beheaded more than 27 Western hostages and tortured many more.

The other two cell members also from west London were Mohammed Emwazi, nicknamed "Jihadi John", and Aine Davis.

Emwazi, the ringleader, was killed in a drone strike in 2015 and Davis was convicted of being a senior ISIS member and jailed in Turkey last year.

Kotey described ISIS killings of western hostages as something that was "regrettable".

Both Kotey and Elsheikh are designated terrorists by the US State Department, which says they have used "exceptionally cruel" torture methods.

UK Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood said he believed the men should be tried in an international criminal court.

Elsheikh, whose family came to Britain from Sudan when he was a child, worked as a mechanic in London.

Kotey, who is of Ghanaian and Greek-Cypriot descent, converted to Islam in his 20s. They travelled to Syria a few years ago and have been interrogated by US officials.

More For You

Piyush Goyal

Piyush Goyal recalled that in February, Narendra Modi and Donald Trump had instructed their trade ministers to conclude the first phase of the bilateral trade agreement (BTA) by November 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Trade talks with US moving forward positively, says Indian minister Goyal

INDIA’s commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said that negotiations on the proposed trade agreement between India and the United States, which began in March, are progressing in a positive atmosphere and both sides are satisfied with the discussions.

He recalled that in February, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and US president Donald Trump had instructed their trade ministers to conclude the first phase of the bilateral trade agreement (BTA) by November 2025.

Keep ReadingShow less
West Midlands Police

West Midlands Police said they were called just before 08:30 BST on Tuesday, September 9, after the woman reported being attacked by two men near Tame Road. (Representational image: iStock)

Woman raped in racially aggravated attack in Oldbury

A WOMAN in her 20s was raped in Oldbury in what police are treating as a racially aggravated attack.

West Midlands Police said they were called just before 08:30 BST on Tuesday, September 9, after the woman reported being attacked by two men near Tame Road. Officers said the men made a racist remark during the incident.

Keep ReadingShow less
Tommy Robinson

The event, which Robinson has promoted for months, is being billed by him as the 'UK's biggest free speech festival.' (Photo: Getty Images)

London prepares for rival demonstrations, police deploy 1,600 officers

Highlights

  • More than 1,600 officers deployed across London on Saturday
  • Far-right activist Tommy Robinson to lead "Unite the Kingdom" march
  • Anti-racism groups to stage counter-protests in Whitehall
  • Police impose conditions on routes and timings of demonstrations

LONDON police will deploy more than 1,600 officers across the city on Saturday as rival demonstrations take place, including a rally organised by far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson, and a counter-protest by anti-racism campaigners.

Keep ReadingShow less
Baiju Bhatt

At 40, Bhatt is the only person of Indian origin in this group, which includes figures such as Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg. (Photo: Getty Images)

Baiju Bhatt named among youngest billionaires in US by Forbes

INDIAN-AMERICAN entrepreneur Baiju Bhatt, co-founder of the commission-free trading platform Robinhood, has been named among the 10 youngest billionaires in the United States in the 2025 Forbes 400 list.

At 40, Bhatt is the only person of Indian origin in this group, which includes figures such as Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg. Forbes estimates his net worth at around USD 6–7 billion (£4.4–5.1 billion), primarily from his roughly 6 per cent ownership in Robinhood.

Keep ReadingShow less
Mandelson-Getty

Starmer dismissed Mandelson on Thursday after reading emails published by Bloomberg in which Mandelson defended Jeffrey Epstein following his 2008 conviction. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Minister says Mandelson should never have been appointed

A CABINET minister has said Peter Mandelson should not have been made UK ambassador to the US, as criticism mounted over prime minister Keir Starmer’s judgment in appointing him.

Douglas Alexander, the Scotland secretary, told the BBC that Mandelson’s appointment was seen as “high-risk, high-reward” but that newly revealed emails changed the situation.

Keep ReadingShow less