The United Kingdom counter terrorism police have arrested the parents of a 20-year-old white British Muslim convert dubbed ‘Jihadi Jack’, for sending money to their son, who has reportedly joined the Islamic State in war-ravaged Syria.
South East Counter Terrorism Command said in a statement that it was aware of “recent reports in the media regarding a 20-year-old man from Oxford travelling to Syria and can confirm we are investigating”.
“We can confirm a 55-year-old man and a 53-year-old woman, from Oxford, were arrested on suspicion of sending money to Syria which could be used for terrorism purposes and were bailed until February 17,” the statement said without identifying them.
Jack Letts, also known as Jihadi Jack, is accused of being the first white Briton to join the dreaded terror group IS in Syria.
Meanwhile, the parents of Jack, John and Sally Letts, in their first TV interview since news of their son being in IS-controlled territory in Syria broke, denied allegations that their son had joined IS and said the money was for their son to buy a new pair of glasses.
“Even if you know he’s in danger or can’t see straight, what parent is not going to try get their child a pair of glasses if he can’t see straight,” John Letts told ‘Channel 4 News’ in an interview.
The Oxford-based organic farmer added: “I am furious really. I am very upset. I think it’s crazy that we can’t send a penny to our ill son to help him get out or to help him in anyway because we’ll be seen as supporting terrorism.
“Your child is about to fall off a cliff and they (the police) are holding you back even though he’s crawling forward to the edge and they won’t let you help him.
The couple said there was no evidence their son had become an IS fighter and claimed the police have “put two and two together and made 10”.
“He has the freedom to practice whatever he wants, that’s British values. It’s so unfair, but if there is any evidence that he’s done anything violent, if you can show me any of that I’ll be the first to believe it and I’ll be the first to report it,” Jack’s mother Sally said.
“Because I don’t want a son who would do that type of thing... That is not the kid that I recognise,” she added.
For the first time, the couple revealed during the television that Jack suffered a serious mental health disorder called Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and they have been trying to convince him to come back home to Britain.
“He’s sending desperate messages to us saying it’s cold or he doesn’t have food or he can’t see. We know that legally we’re not allowed to help him. I just don’t understand that,” his mother said.
Jack Letts, who attended CherwellSchool in Oxford, converted to Islam as a teenager and now goes by the name Ibrahim.
He left his home for Syria over a year ago.
