UK probing reports Britons died fighting in Syria
Numerous British citizens are suspected of aiding al-Qaeda-linked groups in battle against Assad regime
Britain’s Foreign Office says it is looking into reports that a number of British nationals have been killed fighting alongside al-Qaeda-linked groups in Syria.
Western officials have long warned that the civil war in Syria is attracting foreign fighters from European countries, many of whom have joined hard-line Islamic militant groups.
Earlier this month, the head of Britain’s domestic spying agency said the intelligence service had seen “low hundreds of people” from the UK go to Syria and that some have since returned — stoking fears extremists could pose a domestic threat.
On Thursday, the Times of London newspaper reported that four British men have been killed in recent months fighting alongside rebels battling President Bashar Assad’s forces.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press