UK-born ISIL fighter pleads guilty to murdering US hostages

Alexanda Kotey is one of the two ISIL members captured in Iraq before facing trial on ‘terrorism’ charges in the US.

A British-born man, who was a member of the ISIL (ISIS) team in Syria and accused of beheading American hostages, has pleaded guilty to eight US criminal charges, including lethal hostage taking and conspiracy to support “terrorists”. Alexanda Kotey, who was born in London, is one of the two ISIL members who were held in Iraq by the US military before being flown to the US to face trial on “terrorism” charges. Appearing before US District Judge TS Ellis on Thursday in Alexandria, Virginia, Kotey pleaded guilty to the murders of journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff and aid workers Kayla Mueller and Peter Kassig.