Brighton teenage jihadi known as Khalil al-Britani killed in Syria drone strike
British teenager is believed to be first Briton killed by US air strikes
A teenager from Brighton who joined an Islamist militant group in Syria has reportedly been killed by a US air strike.
Ibrahim Kamara, 19, who adopted the name Khalil al-Britani, went to Syria in February and was killed by a drone strike in Aleppo within the last few days, a Swedish fighter who knew him, Abu Imaad As Sandzaki, said he had been told.
“He wanted to contribute to the jihad in Syria,” Mr Sandzaki told The Guardian, which said it believed the teenager’s real name was Ibrahim Kamara.
Amer Deghayes, who is also from Brighton and joined the same militant group, Jabhat al-Nusra, posted a picture of Kamara on Facebook, saying: “May Allah Accept You Ibraheem Kamara.”
The Foreign Office said it was aware of the reports but was unable to confirm them.
His mother, Khadijah Kamara, 35, said she learnt her son had died through social media. Pictures posted on Facebook appeared to show the teenager in an unzipped body bag with sand on his face.
“He called me in February, and I hung up. He rang again and I said: ‘Don’t ever call me.’”
Mrs Kamara, who manages the charity Strive in the Way of Allah, said she hated violence. “I don’t believe that war can solve any problem. I am from Sierra Leone. This charity is because of war and what war does. We are still picking up the pieces.”
Speaking out against the “cowards” who had “brainwashed” her son, Mrs Kamara said: “They want to get these young kids to do their dirty work for them. I have forgiven him and I have forgiven myself if I have done anything wrong. But for those who have brainwashed him, God will decide on the day of judgment.”
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