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 | It has been suggested that Jihadi John be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since September 2014. |
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| The Beatles (terrorist cell) | |
|---|---|
| Country | The Islamic State, in Syria and Iraq |
| Allegiance |  ISIS (formerly British) |
| Role | Guards and executioners |
| Size | 3 |
| Garrison/HQ |  Syria |
| Nickname(s) | The Beatles |
| Colors | Black |
| Commanders | |
| Ringleader | Jihadi John |
| Members | Jihadi George Jihadi Ringo |
The Beatles, dubbed as such by their former and current hostages because of their British accents, are an active Islamic State (IS) terrorist cell of three members nicknamed John, Paul, and Ringo by the hostages. One member is believed responsible for beheadings in Iraq and Syria, most notably of American journalists James Foley and Steven Joel Sotloff and British aid worker David Haines.
The Beatles are three of an estimated 500 British Muslims fighting on behalf of Islamic State to impose a caliphate in Syria and Iraq. The Beatles are reportedly harsher than other Islamic State guards. They are the most feared of the jihadists because of their taste for the macabre and their beatings, use of Taser guns, and waterboarding, according to a freed French hostage.
The jihadist known as "John" has been identified by the British security service MI5, and appears in a video as Foley's killer. He speaks with a British accent in the video, and UK Prime Minister David Cameron said “from what we have seen it looks increasingly likely that it is a British citizen.”
A former Islamic State member said that using a British man to carry out the beheadings was likely a deliberate effort by IS to "project the image that a European, or a Western person, executed an American so that they can ... appeal to others outside Syria and make them feel that they belong to the same cause."
Islamic State fighters are believed to be holding more than 20 foreign hostages.
2014 beheadings
See also: 2014 ISIL beheading incidentsJihadi John beheaded journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, as well as humanitarian worker David Haines, in August and September 2014. He had also beheaded two Syrian soldiers. At the end of the Haines beheading video Jihadi John threatens to execute another captive British citizen, humanitarian aid worker Alan Henning.
Reactions
The use of "Beatles" as a nickname for the group elicited a response from Ringo Starr, who stated his disgust at the use of his former band's name in this context, adding that the Beatles had stood for peace and opposed violence.
References
- "The Beatles terrorist group". NY POST. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
- "British Isis militant in James Foley video 'guards foreign hostages in Syria'". The Guardian. 20 August 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|authors=ignored (help) - http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/foley-isis-killer-beatle-named-john-report-article-1.1911373
- http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/james-foley/british-isis-militants-dubbed-beatles-guarded-syria-hostages-n185926
- http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/ringo-starr-beatles-isis
- http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/james-foley/british-isis-militants-dubbed-beatles-guarded-syria-hostages-n185926
- http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/09/09/us-british-intelligence-reportedly-identify-foley-beheader-close-to-arresting/
- http://nypost.com/2014/08/20/jihadi-who-executed-us-journalist-may-have-been-british-national/
- http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/wp/2014/09/05/ringo-starr-displeased-british-isis-torturers-called-the-beatles/
- "James Foley beheading: Hunt on for 'British' jihadist". BBC News. 20 August 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
- Ringo Starr disgusted by ISIS nickname. Dailymail. Accessed 12 September 2014.
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