Tuesday 11 February 2014

Syria crisis: UK man in Aleppo suicide attack

Smoke rises from prison in central Aleppo (6 February 2014)
UK officials have confirmed a British man was behind a suicide bombing in Syria, in what is thought to the first such attack by a UK national there.

The jihadist, known as Abu Suleiman al-Britani, is believed to be from Sussex.

Videos posted online purport to show him driving an armoured truck towards a jail in the city of Aleppo last week, where it detonated in a huge explosion.

Hundreds of British nationals are thought to have gone to Syria to fight in the conflict.

One in 10 foreign militants is believed to be from Europe, with most of the others believed to have come from Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Libya.

Whitehall officials have told the Reporters "there is no doubt at all" that a British man carried out the suicide attack on 6 February.

Prisoners 'escape'
The bombing was reportedly part of an attempted jailbreak by fighters from the hardline Islamist groups, Ahrar-al-Sham and the al-Nusra Front in Syria.

Heavy fighting broke out between the rebels and Syrian forces, causing dozens of casualties on both sides.

Activists said as many as 300 inmates managed to escape, but the Syrian government denied the report.



Forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad regained control of most of the prison last Friday, after 24 hours of clashes.

Rebels have launched several attacks on the Aleppo jail in recent months. Up to 3,000 inmates are believed to be held inside the prison.

Syria's conflict has claimed more than 100,000 lives since 2011 and has driven 9.5 million people from their homes.

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