Jihadi John had murdered at least 27 hostages when Britain issued his arrest warrant

Mohammed Emwazi, pictured in September 2014, was charged with 27 counts of murder and five counts of hostage taking that year

Jihadi John had murdered at least 27 hostages ten months before his death, it has been claimed.

Mohammed Emwazi was nicknamed after appearing in Islamic State beheading videos showing the hostages released by the terrorist organisation.

He was charged with 27 counts of murder and five counts of hostage taking in November 2014 – a year before he was killed in a drone strike in Syria, according to documents seen by the Daily Telegraph. An arrest warrant was issued on January 28. 2015.

The charges would have allowed prosecutors to bring Emwazi – the leader of the gang of jihadis nicknamed ‘The Beatles’ – before a British court had he been detained in a country from which he could have been legally extradited.

Emwazi took part in the barbaric beheadings of British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning and US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff and US humanitarian worker Peter Kassig. 

The terrorist, who grew up in Queen’s Park, West London, was killed in a joint US-British airstrike in Raqqa on November 12, 2015.

Alexanda Amon Kotey (left) and Shafee El-Sheikh are being held by Kurdish forces in Syria

Aine Davis (left) originally from Hammersmith, West London, poses with weapons in Syria

Alexanda Kotey and Shafee El-Sheikh – two other members of the terrorist cell – are currently being held by Kurdish forces in Syria. They are facing trial and possible execution in the US.

The pair were captured in Syria in January 2018. They have admitted to being part of the IS cell that murdered Mr Haines, Mr Henning, Mr Foley and Mr Sotloff, although they deny taking part in the killings.

Kotey is known as Ringo, El-Sheikh as George, Emwazi as John and the fourth member is Aine Davies, known as Paul. 

Earlier this week it was revealed Kotey and El-Sheikh could have faced justice in Britain – even though a minister claimed there was not enough evidence for them to be tried.

In 2016, prosecutors had enough evidence to charge Kotey – with five counts of murder, and an arrest warrant was issued.

But Ben Wallace, the then security minister, told the Commons last year there was not enough evidence for Kotey, 35, or fellow jihad El Sheikh, 39 to stand trial in Britain.

Emwazi took part in beheadings of UK aid workers David Haines (left) and Alan Henning (right)

El Sheikh’s mother, Maha Elgizouli, is currently making a legal challenge against Sajid Javid’s decision to share 600 witness statements gathered by British police with the US without seeking assurances that the men would not face execution if they were extradited and convicted.

Emwazi was killed in a joint US-British airstrike in Raqqa on November 12, 2015

Both men were born and grew up in Britain, and Mrs Elgizouli wants them to stand trial in the UK, even though they have been stripped of their citizenship.

The document – a response from the Director of Public Prosecutions in response to a legal challenge against the Crown Prosecution Service by Miss Elgizouli, said: ‘Mohammed Emwazi was killed in November 2015 and therefore has never been prosecuted.’ 

It adds: ‘The distinction between the evidence relating to Kotey and El-Sheikh included the fact that there were a number of hostages who were able to identify Kotey’s voice whereas there was no such evidence in relation to Kotey.’ 

A judicial review against the Director of Public Prosecutions suggested there could be enough evidence to charge El Sheikh with membership of IS, which carries a jail sentence of up to ten years.

The hearing concluded yesterday with a ruling expected in the coming months. 

Yesterday, Supreme Court justices were told the decision to hand over evidence without seeking an assurance they would not face the death penalty was ‘exceptional’.

Home Office lawyers said that Mr Javid’s decision was made ‘after the most careful consideration.’

Sir James Eadie QC said in written submissions that the decision was taken in circumstances where the ‘only prospect of El-Sheikh facing justice’ was if he were tried by a federal court in the US.

He also said the US administration had made it clear it was ‘strongly opposed’ to the UK seeking a death penalty assurance.

He said: ‘It was an exceptional decision, taken after the most careful consideration by the (then) home secretary, having consulted with the (then) foreign secretary (Boris Johnson).

‘It was the culmination of prolonged engagement with the US and involved judgements being made about likely US reaction… to the various courses of action being considered.

‘There are the very strongest of reasons why the interests of justice and the public interest more generally would be better served in this case by a criminal trial in the US.’

He said Mr Javid, who is now Chancellor, reached the view that the ‘best chance of securing a federal prosecution’ was if the UK did not insist upon a death penalty assurance.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk