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Two Britons freed in Iraq after arrest on way home from fighting Isis Two Britons freed in Iraq after arrest on way home from fighting Isis
(about 1 hour later)
Two Britons and an Irishman have been freed from jail in a Kurdish-controlled area of northern Iraq after being detained on their way home from fighting against Islamic State, the Foreign Office has confirmed.Two Britons and an Irishman have been freed from jail in a Kurdish-controlled area of northern Iraq after being detained on their way home from fighting against Islamic State, the Foreign Office has confirmed.
They are understood to have been with the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), a force reported to have between 25,000 and 50,000 fighters trying to quell Isis in northern Syria.They are understood to have been with the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), a force reported to have between 25,000 and 50,000 fighters trying to quell Isis in northern Syria.
Jac Holmes, Joe Akerman and Joshua Molloy, the latter both former soldiers, were held for more than a week in a prison in Irbil after crossing the border from Syria.Jac Holmes, Joe Akerman and Joshua Molloy, the latter both former soldiers, were held for more than a week in a prison in Irbil after crossing the border from Syria.
They had spent months fighting against Isis.They had spent months fighting against Isis.
Shortly after his release, Holmes, an IT worker, told the BBC: “It feels good to finally be out, hopefully no more trouble and we’ll be on the way home soon.”Shortly after his release, Holmes, an IT worker, told the BBC: “It feels good to finally be out, hopefully no more trouble and we’ll be on the way home soon.”
Holmes’s mother is reported to have met Kurdish officials on Friday to help secure his release. She told the BBC it had been an anxious time and wrote that she was “prepared to chain myself to the railings” if she was unable to help free him.Holmes’s mother is reported to have met Kurdish officials on Friday to help secure his release. She told the BBC it had been an anxious time and wrote that she was “prepared to chain myself to the railings” if she was unable to help free him.
Holmes had no military experience when he first entered Syria in January 2015. He previously said his interest in the country spiked in 2011 and his attention gradually shifted to the struggle of the Kurds against Isis.Holmes had no military experience when he first entered Syria in January 2015. He previously said his interest in the country spiked in 2011 and his attention gradually shifted to the struggle of the Kurds against Isis.
On Sunday, he posted on Facebook: “Got out of jail peeps, thanks for the support.” Akerman also posted a message on Facebook which simply read: “Free.”On Sunday, he posted on Facebook: “Got out of jail peeps, thanks for the support.” Akerman also posted a message on Facebook which simply read: “Free.”
The three men are understood to have been freed on Sunday night, and Ireland’s foreign affairs minister, Charlie Flanagan, was the first to break the news to the Molloy family.The three men are understood to have been freed on Sunday night, and Ireland’s foreign affairs minister, Charlie Flanagan, was the first to break the news to the Molloy family.
Declan Molloy, Joshua’s father, said emotions in the family were running wild. “We are all delighted here. We are jumping with joy to know that he is out,” he said.Declan Molloy, Joshua’s father, said emotions in the family were running wild. “We are all delighted here. We are jumping with joy to know that he is out,” he said.
“You know that Christmas morning feeling, it’s a bit like that, when you find your most sought-after present under the tree, the dream present. That’s how we feel.”“You know that Christmas morning feeling, it’s a bit like that, when you find your most sought-after present under the tree, the dream present. That’s how we feel.”
A Foreign Office spokeswoman confirmed the release of the two Britons. “We are helping two British men make arrangements to leave Kurdistan after they were released from custody,” she said.A Foreign Office spokeswoman confirmed the release of the two Britons. “We are helping two British men make arrangements to leave Kurdistan after they were released from custody,” she said.
British officials have consistently warned against travelling to conflict zones and that anyone fighting abroad is at risk of breaching UK terrorism laws.British officials have consistently warned against travelling to conflict zones and that anyone fighting abroad is at risk of breaching UK terrorism laws.
Holmes was shot in the arm during a gun battle with Isis forces last May. His mother Angie said she was elated at the news and described her son and his frontline comrades as heroes.
“Jac’s family and friends are grateful for all the help and support they’ve received during this difficult time,” she said, thanking the Foreign Office and the Kurdish regional government “for their assistance in securing his release”.
Mark Campbell, a Kurdish rights campaigner for 20 years, tried to raise awareness of the men’s plight by visiting the Kurdish high representatives’ offices in London with Angie Holmes on Friday.
“I am so happy that common sense has prevailed and these brave men have been freed and able to return to their families,” Campbell said. “They deserve medals not prison, and I hope they will get apologies and the recognition they deserve.”
Campbell had tried to dissuade Holmes from travelling to Syria before he went out, but had no contact with Molloy or Akerman before they left.
The men were detained after leaving the frontline to come home. They are believed to have been in the Rojava region of Syria for some time and at least one had fought in the liberation of Sinjar, the city where thousands of Yazidis were slaughtered when Isis took it over in 2014.
They were imprisoned in Erbil for about 10 days and it is understood demands were made for payments of fines of $15,000 (£10,400) to secure their release.
Molloy’s father, a passionate amateur astronomer, considered selling his set of telescopes in order to raise money to try to free his son. “It was a tough battle but I have got to give my thanks to Mark Campbell in the Kurdish support group in London,” he said.
Molloy got a secondhand account of his son’s condition and life in the jail after a freelance reporter managed to visit him in the hours before the releases were secured. “It must have been an awful place to be,” he said.
British diplomats had been working on the ground on behalf of all three men, saying that they do consular work for Irish citizens in difficulty in some countries where Ireland does not have representation.