The last member of the ISIS 'Beatles' has reportedly been identified

Last ISIS 'Beatles' member identified.
(Image credit: MOADH AL-DULAIMI/AFP/Getty Images)

British and American intelligence officials have identified the last member of the so-called Islamic State "Beatles" that beheaded 27 hostages, BuzzFeed News and The Washington Post jointly reported Monday.

El Shafee Elsheikh, 27, a former London Fairground mechanic, is said to be living in Syria. His mother, Maha Elgizouli, told BuzzFeed he ran away to Syria after being radicalized in 2012, and his younger brother followed.

"My kids were perfect," she said. "And one day it suddenly happened."

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The other members of the execution squad have been identified as Londoners Mohammed Emwazi, better known as "Jihadi John;" Alexanda Kotey; and Aine Davis.

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Julie Kliegman

Julie Kliegman is a freelance writer based in New York. Her work has appeared in BuzzFeed, Vox, Mental Floss, Paste, the Tampa Bay Times and PolitiFact. Her cats can do somersaults.