LONDON (TIP): With Islamic State executioner Jihadi John reportedly killed in a drone strike, UK’s leader of opposition Jeremy Corbyn today said it would have been “far better” if he had been held to account in a court of law.
The American military was 99 per cent certain that Mohammed Emwazi, known as Jihadi John, had been killed in a drone strike in Syria.
Downing Street and UK Ministry of Defence sources were marginally less certain in their response to the reports of his death than US sources, but added there was a “high degree of certainty that he has been killed”.
Reacting to the reports, Labour Party leader Corbyn said, “We await identification of the person targeted in last night’s US air attack in Syria. It appears Mohammed Emwazi has been held to account for his callous and brutal crimes.” “However, it would have been far better for us all if he had been held to account in a court of law. These events only underline the necessity of accelerating international efforts, under the auspices of the UN, to bring an end to the Syrian conflict as part of a comprehensive regional settlement,” he was quoted as saying by The Independent. Emwazi, who speaks English and is believed to be born in Kuwait, was frequently seen in hooded hostage videos carrying out violent beheadings, including that of Britons. The UK government was notified of the operation and notified families whose kin was executed by Emwazi. Corbyn in the past has come under fire for his statements.
He faced criticism for saying it was a “tragedy” that Osama bin Laden was killed by the United States rather than being put on trial.
He had made the remarks shortly after the special forces raid on the al-Qaeda chief’s Pakistan compound in 2011. (Source: PTI)