Hammond to urge world leaders to unite to 'crush' Islamic State

The Foreign Secretary has defended the government's decision to add four Britons to a UN sanctions list that targets al-Qaeda and Islamic State operatives.

Speaking to ITV News, Philip Hammond said that the sanctions "sent an important message" to other potential home-grown terrorists and demonstrated that the UK had a sanctions regime.

"It will prevent others from travelling around the world," he said.

The four Britons - Omar Hussain from High Wycombe, Nasser Muthana from Cardiff, Aqsa Mahmood from Glasgow and Sally-Anne Jones from Chatham - are suspected of leading recruitment drives and plotting terror attacks against the UK and elsewhere from strongholds in Syria. They will be subject to a global asset freeze and travel ban.

The parents of Aqsa Mahmood have criticised the government's decision to add their daughter's name to a UN sanctions list after she left the UK to join Islamic State.

Aamer Anwar, the family's lawyer, has said that Aqsa's parents believe the measure could mean other parents in similar situations not informing the authorities about any concerns they have over their children.

He added that parents Khalida and Muzaffar Mahmood also fear that sanctions could send a message to "brainwashed young people" who leave the UK for Syria, that they should stay there and not return home.

Mr Anwar said that Mr and Mrs Mahmood are very distressed over the government's announcement of the sanctions and think the move will make it even less likely they will see their daughter again.

One of four British citizens believed to have joined Islamic State appears to have tweeted mocking the Prime Minister after hearing she has been added to a UN sanctions list.

A post from an account believed to belong to Sally-Anne Jones was published on the social media site Twitter.

Sally-Ann Jones, from Chatham, is one of four individuals that have been put on the list that targets al-Qaeda and Islamic State operatives.

The 45-year-old former punk rocker was married to IS fighter Junaid Hussein, who was killed in US-led coalition air strikes in August.

ITV News cannot independently verify the account.