Ireland

Islamic State: Group claims Iraq suicide bomber was Irish

Iraq's elite counterterrorism forces prepare to attack Islamic State positions in the village of Tob Zawa, outside Mosul. Picture by Khalid Mohammed, Associated Press
Iraq's elite counterterrorism forces prepare to attack Islamic State positions in the village of Tob Zawa, outside Mosul. Picture by Khalid Mohammed, Associated Press Iraq's elite counterterrorism forces prepare to attack Islamic State positions in the village of Tob Zawa, outside Mosul. Picture by Khalid Mohammed, Associated Press
By Staff Reporter

THE so-called Islamic State group has announced the death of an Irishman it says was killed fighting against the Iraqi Security Forces near Mosul.

The Irish Times is reporting that the deceased is a Muslim convert from Dublin formally known as Terence Kelly, a 49 year old former nurse from the inner city. It is believed he died carrying out a suicide attack against a Shia militia fighting alongside the Iraqi army.

A Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson told the paper that they were investigating the claims.

Ireland's most senior Muslim cleric, Dr Shaykh Umar al-Qadri, wrote on social media that he believed the man who was killed was Kelly, who had taken the name Khalid. He said he had feared he would have carried out attacks in Ireland.

Islamic State named the deceased as Abu Osama Irelandi and distributed a picture of a man they said identified as Kelly standing in front of a military vehicle with an assualt rifle.

Mosul fell under ISIS control two years ago with efforts to win it back starting last month.