He was the man responsible for a brutal execution tape released in 2014, as confirmed by his own family. Al Manasfi was allegedly killed in an ambush but he Syrian government forces in 2013 near Idlib.
Following the news of his reported death, British Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirmed at the time they were in communication with his family. A statement from the FCO said: “Their family have been informed and we are providing consular assistance.”
However, according to new reports, al Manasfi has survived the attack and still lives in Syria, married with children.
Ali al Manasfi, a 28-years-old bricklayer from west London, travelled to Syria soon after the conflict began.
In 2013, in what was the first known example of such a killing by a British citizen during the Syrian conflict, the balaclava-wearing al Manasfi was seen shooting a hostage in the back of the head. The video was posted online by a group of British fighters in Syria called Rayat al Tawheed, or “Banner of God” — an affiliate of Daesh*.
The UK government stripped him of his citizenship, but according to al Manasfi's brother, the revocation didn't affect him because “England was history for him.”
While still in Britain, al Manasfi was arrested and sent to prison for a violent assault. Upon his release, he has reportedly become friends with Mohammed Emwazi and Alexanda Kotey, who would later become members of the infamous…
