Third Briton killed in Syria fighting against Islamic State

A British man has been killed fighting against Islamic State in Syria, according to reports.
By The Newsroom
Published 3rd Jan 2017, 14:48 BST
Updated 9th Jan 2017, 13:21 BST
Undated picture, taken from Facebook, of Ryan Lock, 20, from Chichester, West Sussex, who is reported to have been killed fighting against Islamic State in Syria. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Tuesday January 3, 2017. See PA story DEATH Syria. Photo credit should read: /PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.Undated picture, taken from Facebook, of Ryan Lock, 20, from Chichester, West Sussex, who is reported to have been killed fighting against Islamic State in Syria. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Tuesday January 3, 2017. See PA story DEATH Syria. Photo credit should read: /PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
Undated picture, taken from Facebook, of Ryan Lock, 20, from Chichester, West Sussex, who is reported to have been killed fighting against Islamic State in Syria. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Tuesday January 3, 2017. See PA story DEATH Syria. Photo credit should read: /PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.

Ryan Lock, 20, is said to have died during an offensive by anti-IS forces in a bid to retake the northern city of Raqqa, considered to be the terrorist group’s capital.

The former chef with no previous military experience from Chichester, West Sussex, had joined Kurdish militia after telling his family he was going on holiday to Turkey in August.

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The People’s Protection Units (YPG), a Kurdish military force, reportedly told Mr Lock’s family that he had died along with four other fighters on December 21.

Mr Lock’s father, Jon, told the Guardian that his son was a “very caring and loving boy who would do anything to help anyone” and “had a heart of gold”.

The YPG said he had “crossed continents for the destiny of our people and humanity”.

Images posted on Facebook in October and November appear to show Mr Lock holding an AK-47 and wearing military gear.

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Mark Campbell, who was with a group of Kurdish activists who visited Mr Lock’s family, told the BBC their main concern was that Mr Lock’s remains are returned to the UK.

“We hope the UK Government will also use all their diplomatic powers to give practical assistance to the family to help bring Ryan’s remains home for burial,” he said.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “The UK has advised for some time against all travel to Syria.

“As all UK consular services there are suspended, it is extremely difficult to confirm the status and whereabouts of British nationals in Syria.

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“Anyone who does travel to these areas, for whatever reason, is putting themselves in considerable danger.”

Paying tribute to Mr Lock, Jake Klipsch, who lists himself on Facebook as working for YPG in Turkey, posted: “Ryan, even though I only knew you for a short time, you’ll always be the guy that was hit by a Turkish air strike but still carried on. One of Rojava’s bravest sons. Til Valhal. Sahid namirin.”

Mr Lock is the third British man to die fighting IS with the Kurds in Syria.

Dean Evans, 22, a dairy farmer from Reading, Berkshire, died in the city of Manbij in July last year and former Royal Marine Konstandinos Erik Scurfield, 25, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, died in the northern village of Tel Khuzela in March 2015.

Related topics:SyriaTurkeyBBC