The homegrown jihadists fighting for ISIS: How one in four foreigners who have signed up for Islamic State is British - and how half of them are ALREADY back in the UK
Questions have been raised as to whether enough is being done to stem the flow of fighters as only 23 passports have been seized this year to prevent them travelling to the war zone. The Government says there are around 500 British while a further 250 are thought to have already returned to the UK where the police and security services are attempting to watch them. The murder of James Foley apparently by 'John' - one of a gang of British jihadis known as 'The Beatles' - has raised fears the killing fields of Syria and Iraq are dominated by extremist Britons. MailOnline has profiled the most high profile jihadists known to have fled for Syria and Iraq.
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At least one in four of the estimated 2,000 foreigners fighting for ISIS in Syria and Iraq is British - and half of those are already back in the UK, it has emerged today.
Serious questions have been raised as to whether enough is being done to stem the flow of fighters after the Government revealed it has only seized 23 passports this year to prevent them travelling to the war zone.
The Government says there are around 500 British among the fighters while a further 250 are thought to have already returned to the UK where the police and security services are attempting to watch them.
That means there are now almost three times as many British Muslims fighting for Islamic State than there are serving in the UK military, an MP has claimed.
But Khalid Mahmood, Labour MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, told Channel 4 News the lack of border controls meant the Government’s estimates of jihadi numbers were too low. ‘I think it’s about 2,000 people,’ he added.
According to the Ministry of Defence, there are around 600 British Muslims currently serving in the Armed Forces - just 0.4 per cent of total personnel. This is far below the 4.3 per cent of the British population as a whole who are Muslim.
Irish police also believe that 30 jihadists are using the country as a base while travelling to and from Syria and Iraq.
The murder of James Foley apparently by 'John' - one of a gang of British jihadis known as 'The Beatles' - has raised fears the killing fields of Syria and Iraq are dominated by extremist Britons.
Laden with home-made plates of armour akin to the film Mad Max, he drove at high speed towards a jail in Aleppo, Syria, before detonating in a huge explosion which killed Majeed and dozens of Syrians.
Rebels initially claimed up to 300 inmates were able to escape.
The video was reportedly shot by fighters with the al-Qaida-linked Jabhat al-Nusra rebel group and begins with footage of the truck, followed by shots of fighters exchanging heavy fire.
The rebel group said the suicide bomber was called Abu Suleiman al-Britani, a pseudonym indicating his British origins.
In the UK, before he fled, Majeed drove hate preacher Omar Bakri to his local mosque in Sussex twice a week.
At least one in four of the estimated 2,000 foreigners fighting for ISIS in Syria and Iraq is British - and half of those are already back in the UK, it has emerged today.
Serious questions have been raised as to whether enough is being done to stem the flow of fighters after the Government revealed it has only seized 23 passports this year to prevent them travelling to the war zone.
The Government says there are around 500 British among the fighters while a further 250 are thought to have already returned to the UK where the police and security services are attempting to watch them.
That means there are now almost three times as many British Muslims fighting for Islamic State than there are serving in the UK military, an MP has claimed.
But Khalid Mahmood, Labour MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, told Channel 4 News the lack of border controls meant the Government’s estimates of jihadi numbers were too low. ‘I think it’s about 2,000 people,’ he added.
According to the Ministry of Defence, there are around 600 British Muslims currently serving in the Armed Forces - just 0.4 per cent of total personnel. This is far below the 4.3 per cent of the British population as a whole who are Muslim.
Irish police also believe that 30 jihadists are using the country as a base while travelling to and from Syria and Iraq.
The murder of James Foley apparently by 'John' - one of a gang of British jihadis known as 'The Beatles' - has raised fears the killing fields of Syria and Iraq are dominated by extremist Britons.
Laden with home-made plates of armour akin to the film Mad Max, he drove at high speed towards a jail in Aleppo, Syria, before detonating in a huge explosion which killed Majeed and dozens of Syrians.
Rebels initially claimed up to 300 inmates were able to escape.
The video was reportedly shot by fighters with the al-Qaida-linked Jabhat al-Nusra rebel group and begins with footage of the truck, followed by shots of fighters exchanging heavy fire.
The rebel group said the suicide bomber was called Abu Suleiman al-Britani, a pseudonym indicating his British origins.
In the UK, before he fled, Majeed drove hate preacher Omar Bakri to his local mosque in Sussex twice a week.
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