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London law graduate who posed next to a pile of severed head trophies and appeared in jihadi propaganda video is among two British Al-Qaeda fighters killed in Syria
By Tom Wyke for MailOnline
09:32 26 Nov 2015, updated 15:07 29 Nov 2015
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WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
Abu Basir al-Britani, 26, killed fighting for Jabhat al-Nusra in Latakia, Syria
British fighter of Indian origin studied law and sociology at university
He was used as a cameraman and posted several videos from Syria
Little is known about British Somali fighter Abu Khalid as-Sumali
Do you recognise these British fighters? E-mail:
news@mailonline.co.uk
A London born law graduate was among two British jihadists who were killed this week whilst fighting for the al-Qaeda affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra in Syria.
British fighter Abu Basir al-Britani was of Indian origin and studied law and sociology at university.
He left his home in London in early 2014 and travelled to Syria to join the fight against the Assad regime. He was fatally shot in the head whilst filming in a battle against regime and Russian forces near Latakia.
Little is known about the second dead British fighter, known only by his nom de guerre as Abu Khalid as-Sumali. He is thought to be of Somali origin and was killed fighting in Idlib, Syria.
WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
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Known only as Abu Basir al-Britani, the fighter, who was of Indian origin, left his home in London in early 2014 and travelled to Syria to join the fight against the Assad regime +17
Known only as Abu Basir al-Britani, the fighter, who was of Indian origin, left his home in London in early 2014 and travelled to Syria to join the fight against the Assad regime
Before joining Jabhat al-Nusra, Abu Basir (pictured) fought with the ISIS British battalion Rayat al-Tawheed. Pictured posing with his 'two trophies' - two severed heads of dead regime soldiers +17
Before joining Jabhat al-Nusra, Abu Basir (pictured) fought with the ISIS British battalion Rayat al-Tawheed. Pictured posing with his 'two trophies' - two severed heads of dead regime soldiers
Jihadis on social media also confirmed the death of British Jabhat al-Nusra fighter Abu Khalid as-Sumali +17
Jihadis on social media also confirmed the death of British Jabhat al-Nusra fighter Abu Khalid as-Sumali
Abu Basir initially joined the ISIS affiliated British battalion known as Rayat al-Tawheed.
He appeared in at least one propaganda video and was photographed posing next to a pile of severed regime army heads.
Following the disbanding of Rayat al-Tawheed in late 2014, Abu Basir joined the al-Qaeda affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra.
He refused to talk about his time with Rayat al-Tawheed, insisting he was only a member of ISIS for six days and had sworn an oath to his emir not to reveal details about his past.
However when approached by the MailOnline, Abu Basir did talk openly about his life in the UK, revealing that he was from London and attended a madrassa before studying sociology and law at university.
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When asked by a university student if a degree was a waste of time if wanted to just go and fight in Syria, the British fighter said: 'Well i studied something interesting related to the courts systems. If youre going to leave check your intentions, ask Allah and make sure you join any other good islamic group apart from dawlah (ISIS).'
The 25-year-old kept an active social media profile and regularly answered questions about his life in Syria on his Tumblr page and posted images on Instagram.
When asked if he missed anything from the UK, the British fighter wrote: 'Aside from family. Going to the Masjids (mosques), chilling with the brothers and eating fast food and cuisine in different types of restaurants.'
He also revealed that he was no longer in contact with his family in the UK, commenting: 'I am here, my focus is here and my new life, my new family (brothers) are here.'
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Not to be confused with British fighter Lucas Kinney (also known as Abu Basir al-Britani), the dead al-Qaeda fighter was of Indian origin and spoke fluent Hindi and English +17
Not to be confused with British fighter Lucas Kinney (also known as Abu Basir al-Britani), the dead al-Qaeda fighter was of Indian origin and spoke fluent Hindi and English
Abu Basir revealed that he was no longer in contact with his family in the UK, commenting: 'I am here, my focus is here and my new life, my new family (brothers) are here.' +17
Abu Basir revealed that he was no longer in contact with his family in the UK, commenting: 'I am here, my focus is here and my new life, my new family (brothers) are here.'
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Pictured back in his Rayat al-Tawheed days, Abu Basir (front left) fought alongside the British ISIS battalion before it was disbanded and he joined Jabhat al-Nusra +17
Pictured back in his Rayat al-Tawheed days, Abu Basir (front left) fought alongside the British ISIS battalion before it was disbanded and he joined Jabhat al-Nusra
Abu Basir used his social media account to show off homemade grenades, constructed out of old shell rounds +17
Abu Basir used his social media account to show off homemade grenades, constructed out of old shell rounds
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He was also asked if he would ever return to the UK, prompting him to declare that he had 'no reason to go back and no desire to. Why would I go from honour in Jihad to humiliation from having abandoned this blessed way of life?'
A thorn in many ISIS supporters side, the pro-Al-Qaeda fighter regularly mocked the rival terrorist group on social media and condemned the three East London schoolgirls for travelling to join ISIS.
Abu Basir, also known as Abu Basir al-Hindi, also ran a YouTube account to document his life whilst fighting and working as one of the group's cameramen and infantrymen.
He operated as a battlefield cameraman during Jabhat al-Nusra's fierce battle for Jisr al-shughour, fighting alongside a unit of Turkmen, Syrians and Uzbek fighters.
After surviving the fighting, he wrote a lengthy three part account of the action, peppering his descriptions with numerous Qu'ranic quotes.
However the British fighter, nicknamed Wolf Man by his fellow fighters, was best known for appearing in a two-minute jihadi propaganda video titled: 'A Moment in Ribaat: Standing Guard in the Way of Allah.'
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Abu Basir appeared in an unofficial propaganda video, showing him on guard duty on the frontline in Syria +17
Abu Basir appeared in an unofficial propaganda video, showing him on guard duty on the frontline in Syria
A thorn in many ISIS supporters side, the pro-Al-Qaeda fighter regularly mocked the rival terrorist group on social media and condemned the three East London schoolgirls for travelling to join ISIS +17
A thorn in many ISIS supporters side, the pro-Al-Qaeda fighter regularly mocked the rival terrorist group on social media and condemned the three East London schoolgirls for travelling to join ISIS
Abu Basir appeared in a propaganda, paying tribute to a dead Jabhat al-Nusra known only as Abu Ahmad +17
Abu Basir appeared in a propaganda, paying tribute to a dead Jabhat al-Nusra known only as Abu Ahmad
Jihadis supporters also posted pictures of dead British al-Qaeda fighter Abu Khalid as-Sumali (left) +17
Jihadis supporters also posted pictures of dead British al-Qaeda fighter Abu Khalid as-Sumali (left)
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Speaking with a clear London accent, the fighter is shown on guard duty at the frontline in Syria.
He speaks in a low voice and wears a camouflaged balaclava to conceal his real identity. Resting on his thighs, he carries an AK-47 and describes the conditions on the frontline.
'It's a foggy, cold day. The enemy is quite close and you can hear their shots coming - heavy machine gun fire,' the jihadi says.
He goes on to talk about the difficulties of being covered in mud and 'having to go natural' due to the lack of toilet facilities.
'From time to time you have to keep peering up but the problem is that if you stick your head up for too long, it is likely to take your head off,' he says as he glances over the parapet.
'And, of course, we all want shuhadaa (martyrdom) but we can't be reckless about these things,' he says, describing the 'honour' of defending Muslims.
'If it comes, it comes, but the priority of the Mujahid is to protect his life to stand guard whilst the villages and towns in that direction, they live their ordinary lives but we are on the front line, the Muajhideen, al-hamdulillah (praise be to God),' he insists.
Jihadis on Twitter posted tributes to the dead fighter, using his old handle 'Basirathon' as a hashtag.