ISIS recruit Jihadi Jack says he has no intention of blowing up Brits

The Muslim convert dubbed Jihadi Jack revealed today, from his jail in Syria, that he has 'no intention of blowing up British people' - before adding, 'That's probably important'.

In the interview with Sky News, Jack Letts, 23, also admitted he feels guilty after his parents were convicted, on Friday, of funding terrorism by sending him money when he joined ISIS.

He insisted that the British people are 'my people' before vowing that he means them no harm.

Letts's statement comes a day after he admitted his cold-blooded ambition to carry out a suicide car bombing during his time with the extremist caliphate.

During that interview, with the BBC, he revealed he was prepared to die slaughtering targets of the jihadist militant group and branded himself an 'enemy of Britain'. 

Speaking today, Letts added that he is desperate to be reunited with his parents, who he has not seen since he travelled to the war-torn country in 2014 from his Oxford home when he was just a teenager.

The couple's conviction at the Old Bailey on Friday 'doesn't really make much sense', Letts said from the prison in northern Syria where he is being held by Kurdish authorities accused of being a member of Islamic State. 

Organic farmer John Letts, 58, and former Oxfam fundraising officer Sally Lane, 57, walked free from court after being given suspended sentences.

The Old Bailey heard they ignored repeated warnings their son had joined Islamic State in Syria and sent - or tried to send - a total of £1,723 for him despite being told by police three times not to.

They were found guilty of one charge of funding terrorism in September 2015, but cleared of the same charge in December 2015. 

A third charge relating to an attempt to send money in January 2016 was ordered to lie on file after jurors could not agree.

In a statement following their trial, the parents maintained they did 'what any parent would do if they thought that their child's life was in danger'.

Jack Letts told Sky News: 'I feel guilty for what I've put them through.'

He added: 'It's two 60-year-old atheists being convicted for Islamic terrorism, it doesn't really make much sense.'

He said his parents had sent him money to leave Syria and that he had used some of it to buy basic essentials including glasses.

He said: 'I really want to see them more than I've ever wanted to see them in my whole life.'

The couple have told how the situation and their three-year court ordeal has had devastating consequences on their lives.

In an interview with the Mail on Sunday, Lane said her life is now 'in ruins' while John Letts said the conviction 'destroys me'.

The trial heard that the pair refused to believe that their 18-year-old son had become an extremist when they allowed him to travel, and following the verdicts they said they remain 'committed to help Jack return home'.

John Letts and Sally Lane's statement after their conviction The parents of Jihadi Jack said on Friday that they had been convicted of 'doing what any parent would do if they thought their child was in danger', after being spared jail for funding terrorism.  The couple's solicitor, Tayab Ali, read a statement outside the Old Bailey on their behalf. It read: 'We have been convicted for doing what any parent would do if they thought that their child's life was in danger. 'We want to make it clear that we have not been convicted of funding terrorism. 'We have been convicted of sending money to our son where there were reasonable grounds to suspect the money might have been used for terrorist purposes. 'No one during our trial even suggested that the £223 that we actually managed to send to Jack was in fact used for terrorism. 'The fact that the jury acquitted us of some of the allegations makes it clear that the jury accepted that we believed that our son's life was in imminent danger. 'We believe we have been let down badly by the police and the government. 'We tried to do the right thing. We fully cooperated with the police and asked them repeatedly for help. They promised they would help us, but instead of helping us, they used the information we provided to prosecute us. 'Jack is still a British citizen, and we have pleaded with the government to help us to bring him to safety even if that meant that he might be prosecuted in the UK. If there is evidence he has committed a crime, then he should be tried. 'Having escaped from ISIS, he is in limbo. The government claims it can do nothing because it is too dangerous for officials to travel to Syria to help Jack, although journalists have been able to travel there and we believe that there are numerous members of UK government agencies on the ground in the region. Others – including children ‐ are in the same situation. 'This means that after more than two years in jail, Jack still faces indefinite detention, without being charged or tried for any crime. Effectively, there is no government policy for British citizens, including children, trapped in Syria. 'The heavy price we paid today is an indicator of the love we have for our children. We are committed to help Jack return home. We will continue our campaign to help those that the government has turned its back on.'

Source: Daily Mail

Powered by NewsAPI.org

Keywords:

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant • Muslim • Syria • Sky News • Terrorism • Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant • Suicide attack • Extremism • Caliphate • BBC • Jihadism • Oxford • Adolescence • Old Bailey • Prison • Syria • Kurds • Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant • Organic farming • John Letts (tennis) • Oxfam • Old Bailey • Police • Terrorism • Money • Lie on file • Jury • Trial • Risk • Sky News • Guilt (emotion) • Atheism • Islamic terrorism • Syria • Daily Mail • John Letts (tennis) • Conviction • Trial • John Letts (tennis) • Conviction • Parent • Prison • Terrorism • Solicitor • Tayab • Old Bailey • Terrorism • Money • Reasonable suspicion • Money • Terrorism • Trial • Question of law • Terrorism • Question of law • Jury • Acquittal • Allegation • Jury • Police • Do the Right Thing • British nationality law • Crime • Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant • Limbo • Syria • Government of the United Kingdom • Prison • Crime • Syria •