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British suicide bomber dies in attack on Iraqi forces in Mosul | British suicide bomber dies in attack on Iraqi forces in Mosul |
(35 minutes later) | |
A British IS fighter who died in a suicide bomb attack on Iraqi forces in Mosul is a former Guantanamo Bay detainee, the BBC understands. | A British IS fighter who died in a suicide bomb attack on Iraqi forces in Mosul is a former Guantanamo Bay detainee, the BBC understands. |
The self-styled Islamic State group said two days ago that Abu-Zakariya al-Britani detonated a car bomb at an Iraqi army base in Tal Gaysum, south-west of Mosul. | The self-styled Islamic State group said two days ago that Abu-Zakariya al-Britani detonated a car bomb at an Iraqi army base in Tal Gaysum, south-west of Mosul. |
He is believed to have been originally known as Ronald Fiddler. | He is believed to have been originally known as Ronald Fiddler. |
Fiddler, 50 and from Manchester, was sent to Guantanamo Bay in 2002. | Fiddler, 50 and from Manchester, was sent to Guantanamo Bay in 2002. |
He had been seized by US forces in Afghanistan, and was released just over two years later. | He had been seized by US forces in Afghanistan, and was released just over two years later. |
IS has now published a photograph of Fiddler, who was also known as Jamal al-Harith before taking the name Abu-Zakariya al-Britani. | IS has now published a photograph of Fiddler, who was also known as Jamal al-Harith before taking the name Abu-Zakariya al-Britani. |
UK fighters | |
The BBC has seen IS registration papers signed by Fiddler in April 2014 when he crossed into Syria from Turkey. | The BBC has seen IS registration papers signed by Fiddler in April 2014 when he crossed into Syria from Turkey. |
He volunteered to be a fighter, saying his knowledge of Islam was basic. | He volunteered to be a fighter, saying his knowledge of Islam was basic. |
According to figures published by the UK government last year, about 850 people regarded as a national security concern have gone to become fighters in the Middle East. | |
Of those, just under half have returned to the UK and approximately 15% are dead. | |
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "The UK has advised for some time against all travel to Syria, and against all travel to large parts of Iraq. | |
"As all UK consular services are suspended in Syria and greatly limited in Iraq, it is extremely difficult to confirm the whereabouts and status of British nationals in these areas." |