Exchange also included relatives of Abu Bakr al-Iraqi, killed by Syrian rebels
The Times cited a list it had received saying that among the fighters were three French nationals, two British, two Swedes, two Macedonians, one Swiss and one Belgian
London: British media on Monday reported that Turkish hostages, freed by the Islamic State group in September, may have been released as part of a prisoner exchange for up to 180 jihadist fighters.
The Times cited a list it had received saying that among the fighters were three French nationals, two British, two Swedes, two Macedonians, one Swiss and one Belgian. It said the list had been confirmed by its IS sources. The BBC cited a Whitehall source saying the report was “credible”. The Times named the two British nationals as 18-year-old Shabazz Suleman and 26-year-old Hisham Folkard. It did not say how the men had come into Turkish custody.
The report cited a spokesman for a group involved in the deal saying the exchange also included relatives of Abu Bakr al-Iraqi, a senior IS member killed by Syrian rebels in January.Dozens of Turkish consular officials and their families along with special forces officers seized when the IS group overran the Iraqi city of Mosul were released. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said no money had exchanged hands and that there had been “only diplomatic and political negotiations”.
( Source : AFP )
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