Tri-Service

Corbyn: Trial Would Have Been "Far Better" For Jihadi John

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn says it would have been "far better" if the terrorist known as Jihadi John had brought to justice in the courts.

In a statement issued following reports of Mohammed Emwazi having been killed in a US drone strike, Mr Corbyn said that it appeared the militant had now been "held to account" for his crimes.

The Labour leader added that the development underlined the need for greater international efforts to bring an end to the civil war in Syria as part of a comprehensive regional settlement. He said:

"We await identification of the person targeted in last night's US air attack in Syria.

"It appears Mohammed Emwazi has been held to account for his callous and brutal crimes. However, it would have been far better for us all if he had been held to account in a court of law."

"These events only underline the necessity of accelerating international efforts, under the auspices of the UN, to bring an end to the Syrian conflict as part of a comprehensive regional settlement."

Mr Corbyn previously sparked controversy by suggesting it was a "tragedy" that al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden had been "assassinated" rather than being brought before the courts.

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Speaking to Press TV following bin Laden's death in 2011, Mr Corbyn - then a backbench MP - said there appeared to have been no attempt to arrest the al-Qaida leader and put him on trial, adding:

"This was an assassination attempt, and is yet another tragedy, upon a tragedy, upon a tragedy. The World Trade Centre was a tragedy, the attack on Afghanistan was a tragedy, the war in Iraq was a tragedy."