Islamic State beheader ‘John the Beatle’ spotted in Syria

 
THE Islamic State beheader known as “John the Beatle” has reportedly been located by American-built drones in Syria.
The drones, operated by British special forces near the town of Raqqa, also spotted a group of Islamic State hostages wearing orange jumpsuits, Britain’s DailyMail said.
But high British military officials believe a “kill or capture’’ mission now would end in disaster because the fanatics’ forces are too strong.
They instead advised a bombing campaign of several weeks before trying any raid.
“Right now, a raid would be suicidal,’’ a source told the newspaper.
Also dubbed “Jihadi John,” the Islamic State fanatic is said to have been the executioner in several beheadings, including that of US journalist James Foley.

cials believe they know all the alleged defectors’ names.
Asked how they can be kept from returning to the United States and staging acts of terror, he replied, “An American citizen, unless their passport’s revoked, is entitled to come back. So someone who’s fought with ISIL, with American passport wants to come back, we will track them very carefully.’’
ISIL is another acronym for Islamic State.
Mr Comey branded homegrown terrorists “lone rats,” saying he preferred the term over the more widely used “lone wolves.”
“People who use that term [lone wolves] — it’s not one that I like because it conveys a sense of dignity I don’t think they deserve,” he said.

International support ... Islamic State fighters march through Raqqa, Syria.

“These homegrown violent extremists are troubled souls who are seeking meaning in some misguided way. And so they come across the propaganda, and they become radicalised on their own, independent study, and they’re also able to equip themselves with training again on the internet, and then engage in jihad after emerging from their basement.”
Still, despite the proliferation of other savage groups, such as Khorasan and al-Nura, Mr Comey said the US is safer than it was when al Qaeda was at its peak.
“We are better organised as an intelligence community,’’ he said. “We’re better organised and equipped at the border. We have relationships with our foreign partners ... The transformation since before 9/11 is striking.”
Meanwhile, British authorities are on high alert, fearing lone jihadis would respond to Islamic State’s calls to launch attacks, the Times of London said.
They increased patrols and searches of people, homes and cars, paying special attention to extremist sympathisers and others who had been to Syria.
Counterterror police have even been analysing reports of attacks on animals, including a number of mutilations.