Aine Davis: Alleged fourth IS ‘Beatle’ appears in court charged with terrorism offences

A British man accused of being a member a notorious Islamic State terror cell dubbed “The Beatles” has appeared in court charged with terrorism offences.

Aine Davis, 38, is accused of arranging for an individual to smuggle 20,000 euros out of the UK to Syria for the purposes of terrorism. . . also been charged with possession of a firearm for terrorist purposes.

He had travelled to Syria in July 2013 following his conversion to Islam, a court heard on Thursday, where it is alleged he joined jihadist fighters.

The defendant was arrested at Luton Airport on Wednesday evening after being deported to England from Turkey. He had spent seven-and-a-half years in a Turkish prison after he was convicted of being a member of IS, an allegation he denied.

He did not enter a plea and was remanded in custody by Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring, ahead of a hearing at the Old Bailey on September 2.

Mr Davis is said to have denied being part of the “Beatles” cell – so called because of their English accents – which tortured and beheaded western hostages in Syria.

“The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against Mr Davis are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.”

A warrant was issued at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in January 2015 for Mr Davis’s arrest and accused him of trying to fund terrorism. Davis denies the charges.

I hope he doesn’t try autrofois convict as his defence, because these are clearly separate charges.