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Fears grow for friend of Dewsbury boy believed to be latest Isis suicide bomber Fears grow for friend of Dewsbury boy believed to be latest Isis suicide bomber
(about 2 hours later)
A childhood friend of the teenager believed to be Britain’s youngest suicide bomber said he is now fearful for the safety of the boy’s travel companion.A childhood friend of the teenager believed to be Britain’s youngest suicide bomber said he is now fearful for the safety of the boy’s travel companion.
Talha Asmal, 17, from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, reportedly detonated a vehicle fitted with explosives while fighting for the militant group Islamic State (Isis) in Iraq, after travelling to the conflict-torn country with his best friend, Hassan Munshi.Talha Asmal, 17, from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, reportedly detonated a vehicle fitted with explosives while fighting for the militant group Islamic State (Isis) in Iraq, after travelling to the conflict-torn country with his best friend, Hassan Munshi.
Despite his death not being officially confirmed, Asmal’s family said images released through an Isis-linked Twitter account showing a young man named as Abu Yusuf al-Britani appear to show their son.Despite his death not being officially confirmed, Asmal’s family said images released through an Isis-linked Twitter account showing a young man named as Abu Yusuf al-Britani appear to show their son.
Anees Mahmood, 24, a neighbour of the family who grew up with Asmal, told the Guardian he was now “very concerned” about the fate of Munshi, the brother of Britain’s youngest convicted terrorist Hammad Munshi.Anees Mahmood, 24, a neighbour of the family who grew up with Asmal, told the Guardian he was now “very concerned” about the fate of Munshi, the brother of Britain’s youngest convicted terrorist Hammad Munshi.
“I am very concerned because they went there together but according to word of mouth they parted their ways after going there,” said Mahmood, a law graduate. “As far as what I’ve heard, he’s maybe doing OK.”“I am very concerned because they went there together but according to word of mouth they parted their ways after going there,” said Mahmood, a law graduate. “As far as what I’ve heard, he’s maybe doing OK.”
Mahmood said Asmal and Hassan Munshi would play football on the street together and that he last saw them about a week before they disappeared over the Easter holidays. They were walking down the street like “ordinary lads”, he said.Mahmood said Asmal and Hassan Munshi would play football on the street together and that he last saw them about a week before they disappeared over the Easter holidays. They were walking down the street like “ordinary lads”, he said.
“It feels so unimaginable for something like this to have happened; it’s like he’s just going to turn up. I know it might be mad but I don’t believe what has happened. I’ve known his family all my life and they’re from a British cultural background as well so you wouldn’t expect anything like that.”“It feels so unimaginable for something like this to have happened; it’s like he’s just going to turn up. I know it might be mad but I don’t believe what has happened. I’ve known his family all my life and they’re from a British cultural background as well so you wouldn’t expect anything like that.”
Munshi’s brother Hammaad was 15 when he was arrested in 2006 and found to have a guide to making napalm. He was jailed for two years in 2008 for being part of an al-Qaida cell.Munshi’s brother Hammaad was 15 when he was arrested in 2006 and found to have a guide to making napalm. He was jailed for two years in 2008 for being part of an al-Qaida cell.
Family and community leaders have been left shocked by the death of Asmal, who was described as “a loving, kind, caring and affable teenager”.Family and community leaders have been left shocked by the death of Asmal, who was described as “a loving, kind, caring and affable teenager”.
The 17-year-old lived with his mother Noorjaha, 38, and father Ibrahim, 42, at their terraced home before he left for Syria via Turkey on a Thomas Cook flight with Munshi.The 17-year-old lived with his mother Noorjaha, 38, and father Ibrahim, 42, at their terraced home before he left for Syria via Turkey on a Thomas Cook flight with Munshi.
In a statement, Talha’s family condemned Isis for preying on his “innocence and vulnerability”.In a statement, Talha’s family condemned Isis for preying on his “innocence and vulnerability”.
They said: “Talha’s tender years and naivety were, it seems however, exploited by persons unknown, who, hiding behind the anonymity of the world wide web, targeted and befriended Talha and engaged in a process of deliberate and calculated grooming of him.They said: “Talha’s tender years and naivety were, it seems however, exploited by persons unknown, who, hiding behind the anonymity of the world wide web, targeted and befriended Talha and engaged in a process of deliberate and calculated grooming of him.
“Whilst there, it appears that Talha fell under the spell of individuals who continued to prey on his innocence and vulnerability to the point where, if the press reports are accurate, he was ordered to his death by so-called Isis handlers and leaders too cowardly to do their own dirty work.”“Whilst there, it appears that Talha fell under the spell of individuals who continued to prey on his innocence and vulnerability to the point where, if the press reports are accurate, he was ordered to his death by so-called Isis handlers and leaders too cowardly to do their own dirty work.”
Pictures released by Isis online show Asmal smiling as he stands by a black Toyota 4x4 giving the militant group’s signature one-finger gesture.Pictures released by Isis online show Asmal smiling as he stands by a black Toyota 4x4 giving the militant group’s signature one-finger gesture.
Another shows the teenager clutching a rifle as he sits cross-legged on a mat alongside two other armed men, apparently being instructed by a uniformed militant in a crudely furnished operations room.Another shows the teenager clutching a rifle as he sits cross-legged on a mat alongside two other armed men, apparently being instructed by a uniformed militant in a crudely furnished operations room.
Paula Sherriff, the Labour MP for Dewsbury, said the community in Savile Town district, were in a state of “shock and devastation”.Paula Sherriff, the Labour MP for Dewsbury, said the community in Savile Town district, were in a state of “shock and devastation”.
“I was there last night and people were crying in the street. There is quite an open outpouring of grief and people were genuinely completely shocked at the news,” she said.“I was there last night and people were crying in the street. There is quite an open outpouring of grief and people were genuinely completely shocked at the news,” she said.
Sherriff added that there needed to be renewed efforts to tackle radicalisation across the country, not just in Dewsbury. She said the government should devote more money to tackling the problem and strengthening the anti-radicalisation programme, Prevent.Sherriff added that there needed to be renewed efforts to tackle radicalisation across the country, not just in Dewsbury. She said the government should devote more money to tackling the problem and strengthening the anti-radicalisation programme, Prevent.
“We need to be working with the community and establish why boys and girls feel the need [to go to Iraq and Syria], and the police have got a part to play in that as well. Politicians and elected members have got a responsibility, as have the local community, to look out for signs of this going on,” the MP said.“We need to be working with the community and establish why boys and girls feel the need [to go to Iraq and Syria], and the police have got a part to play in that as well. Politicians and elected members have got a responsibility, as have the local community, to look out for signs of this going on,” the MP said.
Asmal finished studying for his GCSEs at Westborough high school before leaving to study information and communications technology and business at Mirfield Free Grammar school.Asmal finished studying for his GCSEs at Westborough high school before leaving to study information and communications technology and business at Mirfield Free Grammar school.
Lorraine Barker, executive principal of Mirfield Free Grammar & Sixth Form, where Asmal was studying, said he was very quiet, private and a “typical teenager”. “He didn’t draw any attention to himself,” she said. “He was just a conscientious student.” Lorraine Barker, executive principal of Mirfield Free grammar & sixth form, where Asmal was studying, said he was very quiet, private and a “typical teenager”. “He didn’t draw any attention to himself,” she said. “He was just a conscientious student.”
The suicide attacks are understood to have occurred in Salahuddin province, near one of Iraq’s largest oil refineries, as part of an offensive by the militant group.The suicide attacks are understood to have occurred in Salahuddin province, near one of Iraq’s largest oil refineries, as part of an offensive by the militant group.
Isis statements on Saturday named Abu Yusuf al-Britani – Asmal’s nom de guerre – as one of four suicide bombers. The others were said to be a German, a Kuwaiti and a Palestinian. All four were photographed by Isis standing beside vehicles.Isis statements on Saturday named Abu Yusuf al-Britani – Asmal’s nom de guerre – as one of four suicide bombers. The others were said to be a German, a Kuwaiti and a Palestinian. All four were photographed by Isis standing beside vehicles.
Charlie Winter, a researcher at the Quilliam Foundation, a counter-extremism thinktank, said the short amount of time the teenager spent in Syria before he died was an unusual feature of the case. “He was chosen soon after he arrived,” said Winter.Charlie Winter, a researcher at the Quilliam Foundation, a counter-extremism thinktank, said the short amount of time the teenager spent in Syria before he died was an unusual feature of the case. “He was chosen soon after he arrived,” said Winter.
Isis would have deliberately selected a young British person to act as a suicide bomber as it is more provocative and likely to generate publicity, Winter continued.Isis would have deliberately selected a young British person to act as a suicide bomber as it is more provocative and likely to generate publicity, Winter continued.
“Displaying Talha’s face without a mask, making clear who he is, saying that he was British – they would have calculated this would have caused a media storm.”“Displaying Talha’s face without a mask, making clear who he is, saying that he was British – they would have calculated this would have caused a media storm.”