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Tuesday 17 June 2014

Portsmouth City Council leader issues reassurance after jihad fighter’s killing spree threat

Fighters in the Syrian conflict

Fighters in the Syrian conflict

THE leader of the city council has moved to reassure people after it emerged a jihadi from Portsmouth posted he would go on a ‘killing spree’ if he returned from Syria.

The comments from Councillor Donna Jones come after a man fighting with Al-Qaeda linked group Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant in Syria wrote a message on Twitter.

The man, using the name Abu Abdullah, seemed to threaten to kill non-Muslims.

He wrote: ‘Yeah mate, go back to Britain. You got to be joking. I’ll probably end up going on a killing spree with all the kuffar around me.’

Speaking to The News Cllr Jones said: ‘The Muslim community here in Portsmouth are very upset what’s happened with these young men going over to Syria.

‘We must remember it’s a very small number, when we take into consideration the other British men who have gone. It’s concerning when any British citizen behaves in such a way.’

As reported, a group of men from the city left for war-torn Syria via Turkey to fight with the Islamist rebel group ISIS.

Just yesterday the Home Office banned ISIS, with Immigration and Security Minister James Brokenshire saying the move sends a ‘strong message’ that terrorism is not tolerated.

In a statement he said: ‘We condemn all acts of terrorism committed in Syria, where the conflict poses a growing threat to UK, regional and international peace and security.

‘Proscription is a useful weapon in the armoury at the disposal of the Government, police and security service to disrupt terrorist activity and protect the UK.’

It comes as it emerged 19-year-old, of Portsmouth, Muhammad Hassan also posted a message indicating his support for violence against non-Muslims outside of Syria.

He wrote on Twitter: ‘America wants to drone Dawlah? Inshallah, you will receive many more 9/11s.’

Both Hassan and Abu Abdullah were removed from Twitter over the weekend.

As reported, Ifthekar Jaman, 23, from Southsea was among the group of men from the city who went to Syria in October.

Jaman was killed in fighting late last year and his family home was searched by counter-terrorism police in April.

Nothing was seized and no arrests were made.

Yesterday Hampshire police reiterated its message about its work on the counter-terrorism Prevent strategy. It has visited has 3,500 students and 400 staff in schools and colleges.

Senior national co-ordinator for counter terrorism policing Helen Ball said the police are ‘increasingly concerned’ about young people going to Syria.

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