The Metropolitan Police has welcomed the conviction of a member of the so-called “Beatles” Islamic State terror cell after a trial in the US. El Shafee Elsheikh, 33, faces a possible life sentence after being found guilty of his role in an “evil” hostage-taking scheme which involved torturing, beating, and executing prisoners.
The jihadist, who grew up in London, was accused of being one of a gang of four IS militants nicknamed “the Beatles” by their captives due to their British accents. The cell, said to be made up of ringleader Mohammed Emwazi, known as Jihadi John, Aine Davis, Alexanda Kotey, and Elsheikh, was allegedly responsible for the brutal killings of several Western and Japanese captives, including Britons Alan Henning and David Haines.
On Thursday, Elsheikh was convicted of eight counts relating to four American hostages, James Foley, Steven Sotloff, Peter Kassig, and Kayla Mueller, after a trial at the US District Court in Alexandria, Virginia. Following the verdict, Commander Richard Smith, head of the Met’s counter terrorism command, said: “We are aware of the conviction of Elsheikh in the US today and welcome this verdict. Our thoughts remain with all the victims and their families, and we hope that this result might be of some comfort to them."
