British fighter kills himself in Syria to avoid being captured by IS
A Briton fighting in Syria “turned the gun on himself” to avoid being taken prisoner by so-called Islamic State, Kurdish sources have told the BBC.
Ryan Lock, 20, from Chichester in West Sussex, died on 21 December during a battle for the IS group’s stronghold of Raqqa, the BBC added.
According to the BBC, he was fighting as a volunteer with the Kurdish armed fighting forces, the YPG.
The YPG told the BBC that “trace of a gunshot wound was found under the chin”, suggesting suicide.
Sources said five fighters came under siege by IS – also known as ISIS – in the village of Ja’bar, and they showed “considerable resistance” before they were killed.
After the bodies were retrieved examinations showed that “it seems that the British fighter committed suicide in order not to fall captive with Isis”.
A report said the gunshot wound indicated “that the gun made contact with the bottom of the chin”.
“This suggests that the fighter committed suicide,” it concluded.
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