British man killed fighting ISIS in Syria

A 22-year-old British man has died fighting Islamic State in Syria.

Luke Rutter, from Merseyside, was killed in a neighbourhood close to Raqqa, according to Kurdish fighters.

He is the fourth British man to be killed fighting the terrorist group in the war-torn country.

He is believed to have secretly travelled to Syria last April after telling his family he had joined the French Foreign Legion. He then became known by the name ‘Soro Zinar’.

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A statement from the General Command of the Kurdish fighting forces, the YPG, said that he was killed during the ‘big campaign to liberate Raqqa from the terrorism of IS’.

It read: ‘We send our thoughts and prayers to Martyr Soro, his family, and his comrades who fought courageously on behalf of all humanity.

‘Soro will always be remembered by our people and all peace-loving people around the world as a hero who sacrificed his life for the sake of protecting the value of the free world.’

In a video posted by the YPG, Mr Rutter said he joined the Kurdish group because it ‘stands for the best opportunity for peace.’

He said: ‘I lied to people I care about to come here. I said I was going somewhere else, I didn’t. I apologise massively for that.

‘Apart from that I don’t regret my decision and I hope that you respect it.’

Two American fighters were also killed in the same offensive.

An New Yorker called Nicholas Alan Warden was one of those killed, according to the YPG.

Robert Grodt, an Occupy Wall Street activist, also died.