A former refugee who was granted asylum in Britain as a child has been revealed as the fourth member of Jihadi John’s brutal “Beatles” execution squad who murdered several hostages in Syria.
El Shafee Elsheikh, a former fairground worker, is believed to be the fourth member of the Islamic State killing squad, all of whom had travelled to Syria from Britain.
He was a close friend of Mohammed Emwazi, nicknamed “Jihadi John”, who was killed in an airstrike last year.
Buzzfeed News reports that he was given shelter in Britain aged just five when his Communist parents fled Sudan and were given refugee status.
Security sources say Elsheikh is currently living in Syrian with two wives and two young children who were born out there.
His mother, who lives in the White City neighbourhood in London, said her son had been influenced radical West London hate preacher Hani al-Sibai who is also thought to have influenced Emwazi.
She said he became an extremist just 17 days after attending sermons at three local mosques and travelled to Syria in April 2012.
On being told her son was a member of the “Beatle” execution squad, she said: “That boy is now not my son. That is not the son I raised.”
Elsheikh also persuaded his brother Mahmoud to come go to radical sermons with him before joining him in Syria. Mahmoud was killed last year.
Their mother alleges she tried to stop Mahmoud travelling to Syria by asking British authorities to confiscate his passport, but they refused.
A family friend said Elsheikh was “quiet and respectful” but began arguing with his mother over Islam.
“One day I remember, he came up to her (pointing aggressively) and said ‘you know, Allah says your mum can be your enemy’.”
Breitbart London reported last year how hate preacher Hani al-Sibai lives on state benefits in a £1 million home in leafy suburbia.
He is accused of running a propaganda operation from the house, radicalising Muslims across the world including members of Ansar al-Sharia Tunisia (AST), the terror group behind last year’s Tunisian beach massacre.