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| Briton among al-Shabab fighters killed in Kenya, tests expected to confirm | Briton among al-Shabab fighters killed in Kenya, tests expected to confirm |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Forensic tests are expected to confirm that a British man was among 11 al-Shabab fighters killed during an attack in Kenya, the BBC understands. | Forensic tests are expected to confirm that a British man was among 11 al-Shabab fighters killed during an attack in Kenya, the BBC understands. |
| Kenya's defence forces believe Thomas Evans, 25, from Buckinghamshire, was among those who died in an attack on a military base in northern Kenya. | Kenya's defence forces believe Thomas Evans, 25, from Buckinghamshire, was among those who died in an attack on a military base in northern Kenya. |
| Evans, a Muslim convert who changed his name to Abdul Hakim, is believed to be one of two white men among the dead. | |
| His family said they were awaiting official confirmation of his death. | His family said they were awaiting official confirmation of his death. |
| The attack happened in Lamu County on Kenya's northern coast close to the Somali border, when militants armed with AK47s and grenades assaulted the military base and then stormed a nearby village. | The attack happened in Lamu County on Kenya's northern coast close to the Somali border, when militants armed with AK47s and grenades assaulted the military base and then stormed a nearby village. |
| Eleven gunmen were killed and two Kenyan soldiers also died. | Eleven gunmen were killed and two Kenyan soldiers also died. |
| Police from London are working alongside the Kenyan security services to identify the man they believe is Evans. | |
| In a statement released by Thames Valley Police, Thomas's mother Sally Evans said: "My son Michael and I are currently awaiting official confirmation regarding the death of my son Thomas. | In a statement released by Thames Valley Police, Thomas's mother Sally Evans said: "My son Michael and I are currently awaiting official confirmation regarding the death of my son Thomas. |
| "We cannot comment any further at this time and request the press respect our privacy." | "We cannot comment any further at this time and request the press respect our privacy." |
| Evans' family previously told the Home Affairs Select Committee there had been a "massive failure" by UK authorities in allowing him to leave Britain. | |
| Evans managed to fly to Egypt in 2011 after being stopped from going to Kenya months earlier. | |
| In January 2012, he told his mother he had travelled from there to Somalia to join Islamist al-Shabab fighters. | In January 2012, he told his mother he had travelled from there to Somalia to join Islamist al-Shabab fighters. |
| At least 50 British citizens are believed to have joined al-Shabab - an al-Qaeda affiliate based in Somalia, which has been behind a series of high profile attacks in Kenya and Somalia. | At least 50 British citizens are believed to have joined al-Shabab - an al-Qaeda affiliate based in Somalia, which has been behind a series of high profile attacks in Kenya and Somalia. |
| If the dead gunman is confirmed as being Evans, it will be the first time a British recruit has been killed during an al-Shabab attack. | |
| The British High Commission in Kenya said it was aware of the reports. | The British High Commission in Kenya said it was aware of the reports. |