El Shafee Elsheikh: IS 'Beatle' found guilty of hostage-taking and conspiring to murder journalists and aid workers

The terrorist cell, nicknamed ‘The Beatles’ because of their British accents, caused outrage around the world after releasing videos of the executions of US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff.

IS “Beatle” El Shafee Elsheikh has been found guilty of hostage-taking and conspiring to murder journalists and aid workers in Syria.

The 33-year-old former British national was found to be part of an Islamic State terrorist cell that operated in Iraq and Syria, and whose members were nicknamed “The Beatles” because of their UK accents.

He now faces up to a life sentence in prison.

The group caused outrage around the world after releasing videos of the executions of US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff.

US and British authorities say the IS Beatles were responsible for killing 27 people, including British volunteers David Haines and Alan Henning and American aid workers Kayla Mueller and Peter Kassig.

(L-R) IS victims David Haines, Steve Sotloff, Alan Henning and James Foley

The group’s ringleader Mohammed Emwazi, nicknamed Jihadi John, was killed in a 2015 drone strike, while a third member, Alexanda Kotey, was already serving time behind bars.