Captured ISIS fighters in Syria could be brought back to UK for trial, says top security adviser

Captured British ISIS fighters in Syria could be brought back to the UK to go on trial, says top security adviser

  •  ‘We want foreign fighters, who have been captured, dealt with,’ he said
  •  Sir Mark Sedwill said ‘we will work with allies’ if it is best to be tried elsewhere
  •  More UK children, whose parents had been members of IS, may come home

Captured British Islamic State fighters could be returned to the UK to face justice, according to the top national security adviser.

Sir Mark Sedwill suggested some Syria-based detainees may go on trial in Britain.

But he made clear at an international security conference in Bahrain on Saturday in some cases it may be better for UK-born IS fighters to face justice where they carried out their crimes.   

Facing trial: Sir Mark Sedwill said IS fighters could face going on trial in Britain 

He told the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Manama Dialogue: ‘We want foreign fighters, who have been captured, dealt with through the criminal justice system but they have to be dealt with through the justice system in the most appropriate place possible.

‘So if we can bring them back to the UK and put them through our justice system and deal with them appropriately, we will.

‘If it is better done elsewhere, then we will work with allies to do that.

‘Of course, many of the crimes that these individuals have committed have been committed for example against our allies and partners in Iraq and it may well therefore be appropriate for them to be dealt with there.

‘But they will be dealt with and they will be dealt with in the most appropriate place possible.’

Sir Mark, who also holds the role of Cabinet secretary, suggested more UK children, whose parents had been members of IS, could be brought back to Britain after a group of orphans was recently.

It was the first time the Government had backed such a move to bring the families of suspected jihadists back to the UK.

‘If others find themselves in the same circumstances and it is possible to do so then the same principle will apply,’ Sir Mark said.

‘But people should not underestimate the practical challenges and security challenges of doing that safely.

‘The primary responsibility, of course, for the welfare of these children is the parents, who in effect abused and victimised them by taking them to a war zone and allowed them to be indoctrinated in the first place.

‘But they are Brits and we have a responsibility to them.’  

Making a pact: Sir Mark indicated Britain has a responsibility to orphans, whose parents have served with IS, in war zones and Prime Minister Boris Johnson said attempts would be made where possible to bring them back

Making a pact: Sir Mark indicated Britain has a responsibility to orphans, whose parents have served with IS, in war zones and Prime Minister Boris Johnson said attempts would be made where possible to bring them back

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab last month told MPs children rescued from the fighting in northern Syria could come back to Britain as long as there was ‘no security threat’.

 It is believed as many as  60 British youngsters are stranded in appalling conditions.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it would be extremely difficult to rescue all of the children, but said attempts would be made where possible.

Last month, two suspected British IS terrorists dubbed The Beatles were taken from Syria into American custody.

In custody: Alexanda Kotey refuses to apologise for aid worker David Haines' death

In custody: Alexanda Kotey refuses to apologise for aid worker David Haines’ death

Beatles: But El Shafee Elsheikh said he would offer a 'sincere apology' for his role in Islamic State

Beatles: But El Shafee Elsheikh said he would offer a ‘sincere apology’ for his role in Islamic State

Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh, both in their 30s, were moved by US security services to  an ‘undisclosed location’ to ensure they would not escape following the invasion of Turkish troops into the Syrian Kurdish-held region of north-eastern Syria.

Steps have been taken by the Government to strip those connected with the terror network of their British citizenship. 

Citizenship removed: Shamima Begum who fled to Syria to join the terror group had a British citizenship taken away

Citizenship removed: Shamima Begum who fled to Syria to join the terror group had a British citizenship taken away

Shamima Begum, the Bethnal Green schoolgirl who fled to Syria to join IS in 2015, is taking legal action against the UK following the decision by then-home secretary Sajid Javid.

Meanwhile, back in August, Mr Javid also stripped 24-year-old ‘Jihadi’ Jack Letts of his British citizenship.            

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