Yahoo News Former British soldier who fought against Islamic State charged with terror offences
A British man who fought against Islamic State has been charged with terror offences.
Aidan James, 27, from Formby in Merseyside, is the second person to appear in court this week charged with attending a place used for terrorist training in Iraq and Syria.
The father-of-one, who fought with the Kurdish YPG, was arrested at Liverpool Airport on February 14 and kept in police custody.
He was due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
It comes after a 43-year-old ex-British soldier appeared at the same court on Wednesday.
It is alleged that James Matthews, on or before February 15 2016, attended a place or places in Iraq and Syria where instruction or training was provided for purposes connected to the commission or preparation of terrorism.
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His case is believed to be the first time that terrorism legislation has been used to prosecute someone who is assisting a group who are also being assisted by the UK Government.
Matthews, from Dalston in east London, pleaded not guilty to the charge and will appear at the Old Bailey on March 1.
James was also charged with one count of the preparation of terrorist acts, Greater Manchester Police said.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo in October last year, he said: ‘I chose the YPG because they are a force fighting for (the) freedom of their people, solidarity, unity, feminism, humanity and peace.
‘I have been out here for a couple of months (and) I feel proud to be here and helping in the fight against terror.’
He said he feared security services would class him as a terrorist on his return to the UK.
The YPG wants a homeland for the Kurds.
It is not one of the 74 international terrorist organisations proscribed under the Terrorism Act 2000 and there have been claims that their fighters have been armed by the US in recent months.
