The last member of the IS terror cell known as The Beatles has been convicted in the US state of Virginia. He was found guilty by a jury of aiding kidnappings and the deaths of four Americans between 2012 and 2015.
El Shafee Elsheikh and three others were part of the quartet known as The Beatles for their eloquent English speech. “John, Paul, George and Ringo”, as they were also called, are blamed for the deaths of at least four people: the journalists James Foley in Steven Sotloff and rescuers Kayla Mueller and Peter Kassig.
The group held prisoners in IS territory and demanded ransom or the release of IS militants for their release. Some hostages were released, others were executed. These executions were videotaped and used in IS propaganda films.
Lifetime
Elsheikh (or “Jihadi Ringo”) later learns what punishment he will receive. That can be a maximum of life. In any case, he will not receive the death penalty. The US has assured that to the UK where he lived.
He was arrested in Syria in 2018 and extradited to the US. The other members of the group are Alexanda Kotey, who has been sentenced to life in prison, Aine Davis, who is detained in Turkey, and Mohammed Emwazi, who was killed in a drone strike in Syria in 2015.
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