UK citizens added to UN sanctions list in drive to curb recruits to Islamic State

Four British citizens who have joined Islamic State have been hit with international sanctions in a bid by the government to stem the flow of home-grown recruits to the terrorist organisation.

The individuals - two men and two women - have been added to a UN sanctions list that targets al-Qaeda and Islamic State operatives.

They are:

• Omar Hussain from High Wycombe

• Nasser Muthana from Cardiff

• Aqsa Mahmood from Glasgow

• Sally-Anne Jones from Chatham

It is the first time the UK has submitted the names of individuals from among the around 700 thought to have travelled to Syria to join the so-called Islamic State, also known as Isis.

They are suspected of leading recruitment drives and plotting terror attacks against the UK and elsewhere from strongholds in Syria.

Jones travelled to Syria in 2013 with her husband Junaid Hussain who was killed in a US air strike in August.

Mahmood went to Syria to join Islamic State in 2013 and is thought to be a key figure in the al-Khanssaa brigade, a female brigade in Raqqa which was established by Islamic State to enforce Sharia law.

Both women have used social media to recruit and support Islamic State.

Hussain, who is also known as Abu-Said al-Britani, travelled to Syria last year and also uses social media to recruit others to join Islamic State.

Muthana joined Islamic State in Syria in 2013 and has appeared in propaganda and recruitment videos. He has also threatened the UK in social media posts.

Approval by a UN committee means the individuals are subject to a global asset freeze and travel ban, but the move is also designed as a deterrent to dissuade would-be fighters.

The UK submitted five names to the committee - a fifth is still to be approved for inclusion on the sanctions list.