Iraq: British Isis fighter dies in suicide attack

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/15/iraq-british-isis-fighter-suicide-attack-ramadi

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A British Islamic State fighter has died in a suicide attack in Iraq, according to reports.

Related: Isis routs Iraqi troops from most of Ramadi

The militant is said to have taken part in one of a number of strikes by the group in Ramadi.

Charlie Winter, a researcher on jihadism in Syria and Iraq at the Quilliam Foundation thinktank, said the death was announced on official Isis media channels.

The man was named as Abu Musa al-Britani, which is thought to be a nom de guerre. The Britani suffix is used regularly for militants from the UK. Reports of the death have not been confirmed.

On Friday, Isis launched an assault on Ramadi, the capital of the Anbar province. The strike involved up to six suicide car bombs and the group’s operatives are reported to have captured the main government compound in the city.

Scotland Yard said on Thursday that more than 700 British extremists have travelled to Syria, with a significant proportion making the trip to join Isis.

The Foreign Office said: “We are aware of these reports, but cannot confirm them. We are severely restricted in our ability to confirm the status and whereabouts of British nationals in areas of Iraq where Isil [Isis] operate.”