Two members of an Islamic State cell dubbed the « Beatles » accused of killing several Western hostages are to be brought to the United States on Wednesday to face charges, one said. source of the Ministry of Justice
El Shafee Elsheikh and Alexanda Kotey are accused of being involved in the murders of American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff and aid workers Peter Kassig and Kayla Mueller
They are also responsible for the murders of two Britons, Alan Henning and David Haines
They were stripped of their British citizenship and were detained by US forces in Iraq
A two-year legal deadlock was recently broken when US Attorney General Bill Barr said they would be spared the death penalty if convicted in the United States
Families of Foley, Kassig, Sotloff and Mueller have welcomed report that the two are being brought to the United States to face justice
« James, Peter, Kayla and Steven were kidnapped, tortured, beaten, starved and murdered by ISIS operatives in Syria, » the families said in a joint statement « Now our families can hold these crimes against our children to account in a US court »
« We hope the US government will finally be able to send the important message that if you harm Americans you will never escape justice, » they said « And when you get caught, you will face the full force of American law »
The Justice Department has unveiled an eight-count indictment by grand jury against the couple charging them with various offenses, including hostage taking, conspiracy to commit murder and ‘other accusations
« The courts have determined that it is legal for us to provide additional information to US authorities, » a spokesman for Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday « We want justice done in this case »
Kotey and Elsheikh’s four-member cell was nicknamed the « Beatles » by their captives because of their British accents
They tortured and killed victims, including beheading them, and ISIS released videos of the dead for propaganda purposes
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, The Beatles, United States Department of Justice, Peter Edward Kassig
World News – United States – Two « Beatles » ISIS are brought to the United States to face charges
SOURCE: https://www.w24news.com
