An Islamic State group militant from the UK has been sentenced to life in prison by a US court for his involvement with a terror cell.
El Shafee Elsheikh, 34, was convicted in April of hostage-taking, conspiracy to murder US citizens, and supporting a terrorist organization.
Addressing the Sudanese-born Londoner, the judge called his actions “horrific, barbaric, brutal and criminal”.
Elsheikh was the highest profile IS fighter to stand trial in the US.
His actions are said to have resulted in the deaths of four US hostages.
Journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff and aid workers Kayla Mueller and Peter Kassig were all kidnapped and killed at the hands of the cell.
“Our country has lost four of its very best citizens. We families lost loved ones forever,” she said.
The sentencing came on the eight-year anniversary of Foley’s death. Mrs Foley told the BBC that when she first heard of her son’s death she thought it was “some cruel joke”.
Hostages said Elsheikh was part of a notorious cell nicknamed “the Beatles” – after the band – because of their British accents.
Source: BBC news