Fury as 'ISIS Beatle' part of gang filming beheadings makes bid for UK return

El Shafee Elsheikh is currently serving a life sentence in America. (Image: AFP)

An ISIS terrorist known as Jihadi Ringo has applied to make his return to Britain because he misses his family and friends. El Shafee Elsheikh - part of the gang known as The Beatles - was sentenced to life in prison in 2022 on hostage taking and conspiracy to murder charges. He is currently in a high-security prison in the US, but has applied to be transferred to the UK.

Elsheikh was born in Sudan but grew up in London before having his citizenship revoked in 2018. The Beatles gang filmed the beheading of aid worker David Haines in 2014 after capturing him from a Syrian internally displaced persons camp. Mr Haines' daughter Bethany has called Elsheikh's bid to come back to the UK an "outrageous insult". She said: "The idea someone this evil could be back in a British prison makes my skin crawl. I urge both authorities in the US and UK to see sense and make sure he stays where he is so we can continue to attempt to rebuild our lives."

Elsheikh was convicted alongside Alexanda Kotey, known as Jihadi George. (Image: Syrian Democratic Forces/AFP via)

Elsheikh was handed eight life sentences after being tried by a federal jury in Virginia alongside fellow Beatles gang member Alexanda Kotey, known as Jihadi George.

However, under the International Prisoner Transfer Program, he could move from his Colorado prison to one in the UK.

A US notice sent to victims' relatives, seen by The Sun, says: "This is to inform you that El Shafee Elsheikh has applied to transfer to the UK, the country of which the inmate is a national.

"The United States has prisoner transfer relationships with many countries. These treaties permit foreign nationals to apply to transfer and serve their sentence in their home country.

"Before making a decision, the US collects information about the prisoner, the views of law enforcement and any views provided by victims."

Bethany expressed her disgust at the possibility and begged the Government to ensure "he never sets foot on these shores again".

She added: "I fear Sir Keir Starmer is very much in Donald Trump’s pocket. My fear is it is likely someone as dangerous as Elsheikh could be allowed back.

"Under previous governments, you would say, ‘Oh, that would never happen’. But the harsh reality is that Elsheikh and others like him could be back in our prisons soon."

The Ministry of Justice said: "We have not received any application from the US, but we have the right to refuse any request."