Captured IS foreign fighters a ‘time bomb and should be taken back’, Kurds say

Hundreds of Islamic State foreign fighters held in Syria represent a “time bomb” and cannot be held indefinitely, Kurdish authorities have warned.

Echoing comments from US President Donald Trump, they said captured militants should be repatriated by their own countries.

If that does not happen, the US could be “forced to release them”, Mr Trump has claimed.

Theresa May has rejected his suggestion, her official spokesman saying that where possible, people should be tried “in the region where the crimes had been committed”.

Meanwhile, Home Secretary Sajid Javid has warned British IS bride Shamima Begum she faces “consequences” for leaving the UK to join IS in Syria.

Syrian Democratic Forces, led by the Kurdish YPG, are poised to seize Islamic State’s last stronghold in Syria.

Co-chair of foreign relations in the SDF region, Abdulkarim Omar, said IS detainees – numbering about 800, from almost 50 nationalities – would not be let go.

“We will not release them,” he said. “We could never do this.”

But he added that any attack by Turkey, which has vowed to crush the YPG, could lead to a situation in which the jihadists were able to escape.

“It seems most of the countries have decided that they’re done with them – let’s leave them here. But this is a very big mistake,” he said.

Mr Omar added that home countries must do more “or else this will be a danger and a time bomb”.

Reacting to Donald Trump’s demand that captured jihadists be repatriated, German foreign minister Heiko Maas said it was “not as easy” as the US appeared to be suggesting.

“These people could only come to Germany if we can ensure they are immediately put in custody. It’s not clear to me how all that can be guaranteed,” Mr Maas said.

France took a similar position. “At this stage, France is not responding to (Mr Trump’s) demands,” French justice minister Nicole Belloubet said.

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