© Counter Terrorism Policing South East; Global Look PressJack Letts AKA Jihadi Jack (left); IS fighters (right)
The Muslim convert Jack Letts, who is suspected of leaving Britain to join the Islamic State, has been stripped of his British citizenship, it has been reported.
Jack Letts was 18 when he left his Oxfordshire home in 2014 before marrying in Iraq and moving to Raqqa in Syria. Captured by Kurdish forces as he attempted to flee to Turkey in May 2017, the 24-year-old, dubbed "Jihadi Jack", has since been held in jail in northern Syria.
According to the
Mail on Sunday, Letts - who is
a dual UK-Canadian national - has had his British citizenship revoked, a move that was one of the last actions of Theresa May's government.
A Home Office spokesman said: "Decisions on depriving a dual national of citizenship are based on substantial advice from officials, lawyers and the intelligence agencies and all available information. This power is one way we can counter the terrorist threat posed by some of the most dangerous individuals and keep our country safe."
In an interview with ITV earlier this year, Letts said he felt British and that he wanted to return to the UK, but admitted he did not think that would be likely.
Comment: See also:
UPDATE18/08/2019: Thirteen people have been arrested so far: