Charities withdraw support for Cage after group's comments on 'Jihadi John'

Two major donors to campaign group Cage have pulled funding in protest at the organisation's apparent defence of the Islamist militant known as Jihadi John.

The Charity Commission revealed it had taken "robust action" to demand that the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the Roddick Foundation would cease all current and future donations to the group.

It comes after Cage confirmed it had been in contact with Mohammed Emwazi, who has been identified as the masked militant, and sparked outrage by describing him as a "beautiful young man" and blaming UK intelligence services for radicalising him.

The Islamic State militant known as Jihadi John was refused entry to Tanzania for being drunk and disorderly - contradicting claims that MI5 had tipped off the country's security forces.

Mohammed Emwazi - who later claimed he had travelled to the African nation for a safari - was reportedly detained for "drunkenness" alongside two travel companions upon arrival in 2009, before being shipped back to the Netherlands.

It is thought the men were secretly planning to pass through to Somalia, to join Islamist militant group al-Shabaab.

In an interview with The Times, Tanzania's home affairs minister Mathias Chikawe said it was the pilot of the KLM flight, not MI5, who had warned them that the three men were trouble after being drunk and abusive on the flight.

Lawyers for Mohammed Emwazi's father have told ITV News there is no evidence that his son is 'Jihadi John' saying "his face is covered".

ITV News Middle East correspondent Geraint Vincent reports from Kuwait:

It's the first time his voice has been heard outside the all too familiar and barbarous murder videos made by Islamic State.

The tape released today of Mohammed Emwazi was recorded in 2009.

ITV News UK editor Rohit Kachroo reports:

The west London man named as Islamic State killer "Jihadi John" claimed he had been warned five years ago that MI5 would be keeping a "close eye" on him, the Guardian reports.

In transcripts of Mohammed Emwazi's first interview with advocacy group Cage, the former Westminster student said an MI5 handler told him, despite claims to the contrary: "I still believe you are going to Somalia to train."

According to the report, Emwazi also said the agent "threatened" him, and claimed: “We are going to keep a close eye on you, Mohammed, and we already have been … We are going to keep a close eye on you.”

He also said he was asked his views on the 7 July and 11 September terror attacks on London and New York, and claimed he had replied that they were "wrong", adding: "If I had the opportunity, would I make those lives come back? I would make those lives come back."

It is unclear whether the claims made in the interview are true.

The mother of the Islamic State terrorist Mohammed Emwazi, known as 'Jihadi John', has reportedly said that she recognised his voice from the first beheading video he appeared in last year.

She apparently told authorities in Kuwait, where she lives, that she knew her son's voice immediately.

ITV News' Middle East Correspondent Geraint Vincent reports: