The government was today investigating reports that a London man has been killed fighting with rebel forces in Syria.
Syrian state television claimed a British man was shot dead travelling with an American woman and another companion, also thought to be a Westerner.
Footage showed a black car covered in bullet holes and bodies laid out with multiple gunshot wounds. Soldiers claimed to have found a passport indicating the Briton was born in 1990.
Reports said the trio were killed in Idlib province in northwestern Syria after an ambush by government forces.
They were accompanied by images of weapons, a map of a government military facility and a flag belonging to the militant al-Nusra Front which the three were allegedly carrying.
The Detroit Free Press spoke to the family of the American woman, named as 33-year-old Nicole Lynn Mansfield from Michigan.
After being interviewed by the FBI yesterday family members confirmed she was a Muslim convert after marrying an Arab man several years ago from whom she has since divorced, the paper said,
Grandmother Carole Mansfield told the newspaper: “She had a heart of gold, but she was weak-minded.”
She added: “I think she could have been brainwashed.”
The other two travellers were also reported to be Muslims, with some reports suggesting both were British.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “We are aware of the claims. We have no verification, but are seeking information.
“The UK has warned for some time against all travel to Syria.”
Foreign Secretary William Hague has previously said Syria is now the number one destination for jihadists anywhere in the world.
A spokesman for the minister told the Standard: “Violent extremist groups are attracting a large number of foreign fighters of all nationalities, including a substantial number of UK citizens. The Foreign Secretary has said approximately 70 to 100.”
The Government now believes some of the individuals being trained in Syria could also seek to carry out attacks against Western interests or in Western states.
The spokesman said: “As the conflict has continued, Syria is becoming an increasing concern to the UK counter-terrorism community.
“The absence of a coordinated international response to the conflict has provided a vacuum that has benefited extremist opposition groups, with global jihadis seeking to use Syria as an arena and a base.”
