back to article Fugitive UK hacker turned ISIS recruiter killed in Syria

Junaid Hussain, the UK fugitive hacker turned ISIS recruiter, has reportedly been killed in a US drone strike in Syria. The former member of hacking group TeaMp0isoN (nickname TriCk) was jailed in 2012 for hacking into the email account of an aide to Tony Blair and subsequently posting contact details and personal information …

  1. Anonymous Coward
    Happy

    Oh dear...

    ...what a shame.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Oh dear...

      Indeed; tragic.

      Not.

  2. Andy Non Silver badge
    Happy

    Good.

    One less.

  3. arnieL
    Alert

    Expecting

    an apology from Corbyn on when he becomes PM.

    1. TeeCee Gold badge
      Facepalm

      Re: Expecting

      If they elect that rabid twatspanner, it really will be time to impeach the electorate and select a new one.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Expecting

        Though I totally agree with your sentiment, you got my upvote for 'twatspanner'.

      2. N2
        Pint

        Re: Expecting

        "Twatspanner"

        A very apt description, if I may say so. Pint as I can't upvote twice.

  4. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Nice. Hacking offenses now incorporate the death penalty.

    3,400 people died in 9-11. 150,000+ people have died at American hands since then.

    When will the books be balanced?

    1. Triggerfish

      No joining an army thats currently the enemy of some of the worlds most heavily armed millitaries is the death penalty bit.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      FAIL

      you appear to missing the 100's of thousands / possibly millions killed / maimed / displaced or leaving in fear of ISIS

    3. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      The "books" will be balanced when someone reports.....

      your enemy "sympathies" to the CIA and GHCQ!

      Any person who exhibits that kind of empathy for anyone fighting for ISIS/ISIL/DAESH should be rounded up and locked up for a long time. You are obviously untrustworthy.

      I notice you deliberately didn't include any of the American or Allied dead or wounded in your figures just to slant your argument. I'm sure that you are quoting figures from ISIS sources which helps prove my point.

      This guy was a high level operative in ISIS. That alone makes him a target, but the fact he was a fugitive from the UK, a hacker and a recruiter for them makes him wanted all the more.

      Too bad, boo hoo, another murdering terrorist gone.

    4. Mark 85

      Oh please... go visit Syria and have nice discussion with daesh. They don't give a crap. Their rules of engagement are simple.. if you don't believe as they do, they will kill you, rape the women in your family, and destroy anything in their way.

  5. Roo
    Windows

    Without wishing to trivialize the the rights and wrongs of what that kid did... Given the amount of violence and insanity being attributed to ISIS I do wonder *why* a kid in his early 20s managed to rank as the #3 person the US authorities wanted dead. If the kid was a recruiter and important enough to merit a #3 on the kill list I'd be expecting them to take the kid alive and find out what he knows. I wonder if the reason for the kid's high ranking on the list was down to dear old Tony Blair or the Pentagon Twatterati nominating him for the #3 spot.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      I suspect he was the #3 on the list because the authorities don't know the identities of the hundreds of people more important than him within ISIS. Most likely they have only been able to positively identify a very small number of the ISIS management team. This kid made it easy for them by being all over the internet.

    2. boatsman

      a #3 on the kill list I'd be expecting them to take the kid alive

      That means risking to give him a fair trial and perhaps he walks because of lack of evidence.

      That is precisely the reason why Osama bin Laden was "removed" instead of trialled....

  6. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Glorifying killing

    Seems this person was killed for glorifying and encouraging the killing of people.

    Quite ironic and a little depressing that this results in his own death being glorified and celebrated by some of the posters on here.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Glorifying killing

      if his death goes some way to ease the suffering of millions, then I'd gladly push the button.

    2. GrumpenKraut

      Re: Glorifying killing

      I am extremely critical of what my (western) part of the human population does, drone attacks and all that.

      But ISIS, pretty please! They out-horrify north Korea. Fuck them with a rake. Or with a drone.

    3. LucreLout

      Re: Glorifying killing

      Quite ironic and a little depressing that this results in his own death being glorified and celebrated by some of the posters on here.

      I celebrate it unashamedly. ISIS can suck my balls. That is all.

      ETA: There's a few posts further down that conflate Islam & ISIS. I don't. I have a few (admittedly very few) muslim friends and they simply don't recognise that interpretation of their religion.

      1. Triggerfish

        Re: Glorifying killing

        I don't think its amazing or great, in fact I would rather it was not needed at all, but when it is I rather see it more like putting down a rabid dog, not pleasant but neccssary.

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: Glorifying killing

          Considering that ISIS wants everyone who doesn't subscribe to their particular flavour of Kool-Aid dead makes it sort of hard to summon up much sympathy.

      2. Nightkiller

        Re: Glorifying killing

        "they simply don't recognise that interpretation of their religion."

        There is no hope for change until they do.

    4. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Glorifying killing

      Yeah, I'm in bits!!!!

      Not!!!!!

      All we need to do now is give free travel to anyone who would like to go and help the fucking savages out there in shitholeistan.

      After removing their passports to ensure they can never return to Europe...

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Glorifying killing

        Yeah, I'm in bits!!!!

        No, no, no! He's in bits, and you're in one piece, enjoying a coffee in front of your computer.

  7. Alan Brown Silver badge

    If they want to shock-and-awe

    Then napalming a few ISIS fighter installations or conveys wouldn't go amiss.

    It's not as if it can't be done. Refer to the Highway of Death.

    1. Nigel 11

      Re: If they want to shock-and-awe

      The problem (or one of the problems) is that heavyweight air attacks will create innocent casualties in significant numbers. That would not be popular in the UK. Furthermore those casualties are likely to be Syrian citizens. Furthermore the government of Syria hasn't authorized such attacks. Furthermore Russia backs the recognised government of Syria. (Also China? )

      So going down that route, things might spin completely out of control, and end up with WW3. Which is actually what ISIS wants, if you can believe their propaganda.

      1. Teiwaz

        Re: If they want to shock-and-awe

        > Which is actually what ISIS wants, if you can believe their propaganda.

        Also huge swathes of the population in the U.S.

        Not least that most of them don't have a clue what's going on outside or only have a stunned stoats comprehension of politics outside the US, but most of them think the consequences don't matter to them as they'll all be raptured before that.

    2. Mark 85

      Re: If they want to shock-and-awe

      Sorry but napalm has been banished from almost all nations arsenals including the US. However, in the case of the daesh, I can see where exceptions should be made. They don't understand anything except brute force, nor do they follow any "civilized" warfare rules. At this point, I'm all for the thermonuclear response and turn their major power centers into glass. They hope to meet Allah... they should be helped on their journey.

      1. Bernard M. Orwell

        Re: If they want to shock-and-awe

        " At this point, I'm all for the thermonuclear response and turn their major power centers into glass"

        But what of all the occupied civilian centres? What about the people that ISIS are oppressing right now? Are they "acceptable casualties" or "collateral"?

        I'm not sure I could take that cold decision, no matter how tempting it is...

  8. Anonymous Coward
    Facepalm

    *cough* telemetry *cough*

    He was told not to upgrade to Windows 10 and let it phone home!

  9. tidetide

    I’m sorry to say this but the spectacles of hate need to be removed. I dare anyone on here to google Islamic research foundation and spend a few minutes looking at what you find. I am sure that you will find that Islam is a religion of peace, tolerance, justice, kindness, charity, love and worshiping one God.

    The prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon him) was verbally abused, ridiculed, had objects thrown at him, spat at and even beaten. He reacted by having mercy on people and treating them with patience and kindness throughout his life.

    When we differ in our opinions, we shouldn’t be abusive or threatening. This was not the way of the prophet Mohammed ( PBUH) with believers and disbelievers. Thank you.

    1. GrumpenKraut

      > When we differ in our opinions, we shouldn’t be abusive or threatening.

      Does "abusive" include rape, torture, maining, displacing, and killing at a huge scale? Please clarify.

      1. Roo
        Windows

        @ GrumpenKraut

        "> When we differ in our opinions, we shouldn’t be abusive or threatening.

        Does "abusive" include rape, torture, maining, displacing, and killing at a huge scale? Please clarify."

        What a bizarre question. You need a long cold shower IMO.

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: @ GrumpenKraut

          " I am sure that you will find that Islam is a religion of peace, tolerance, justice, kindness, charity, love and worshiping one God."

          Actually, no. Christians get a pass if they cough up a tax and change their shorts; but unbelievers are apparently to be shot on sight. I'm totally up for living in harmony and all that..."I do not necessarily agree with what you say; but will defend to the extent of light bruising your right to say it" but a group that would deny my right to exist can just go and fuck themselves.

        2. GrumpenKraut

          Re: @ GrumpenKraut

          Let me try to get through why I got (very) annoyed at the smooth talking I was replying to. Just the first sentence:

          > I’m sorry to say this but the spectacles of hate need to be removed.

          Please decide whether "spectacles of hate" refer to the comment thread we are looking at (to be removed, because baaad) or to some pretty fucking atrocious things done by ISIS?

          Not even sure if the poster (account is just for this one message) is some troll. If so, congrats, you got me.

          1. Roo
            Windows

            Re: @ GrumpenKraut

            "> I’m sorry to say this but the spectacles of hate need to be removed."

            "Please decide whether "spectacles of hate" refer to the comment thread we are looking at (to be removed, because baaad) or to some pretty fucking atrocious things done by ISIS?"

            I read the post as applying to everyone - regardless of their creed, a rare glass half-full moment. I'm surprised you took it so negatively - which is why I reckoned you needed a long cold shower.

            FWIW I haven't googled the foundation the poster suggested though. I guess that counts as a victory in the war on citizens forming their own opinion.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      @tidetide I call BS on your whole statement...

      Islamists aren't peaceful and they advocate the death of all "Non-believers" JUST because they are different!

      It's written right in the Koran and you are lying if you believe otherwise!

      Until ALL Muslim religious leadership are seen on Al-Jazeera TV issuing a Fatwa against all members of ISIS and against ALL violence against people, Christian or otherwise; I will believe that an "Eye for an Eye" is the only rule I will obey regarding Islamists. They struck first and haven't even come close to getting what they deserve.

      You really want a new version of the Crusades?

      Because I think it's getting to be time we went back and finished the job!

      1. GrumpenKraut

        Re: @tidetide I call BS on your whole statement...

        > You really want a new version of the Crusades?

        > Because I think it's getting to be time we went back and finished the job!

        Erm, no. Not even jokingly. They are bastards, we are not, or so I dearly hope. (no downvote from me, though)

    3. Triggerfish

      Actually I have nothing against muslims, or christians or anything like that. Most muslims are pretty ok out of the ones I have met, in fact couple of years ago stayed on a predominately muslim island for about a month and everyone was lovely, I would recommend the place to anyone wanting to go there for a holiday.

      However any lot who happily kill and maim for some cause like ISIS and who oppress people and will not compromise from their own twisted world view and who thinks you should die if you do not agree, well quite frankly fuck 'em.

    4. Boris the Cockroach Silver badge
      IT Angle

      I'm sure the prophet was etc etc etc

      However the members of ISIS have shown no mercy to captives, no kindness, no patience, so as far as I'm concerned ISIS are not an islamic organisation,(and quite a few true followers of Islam say that too) and in fact, closely resemble the nazi SS in the way they treat people different to them.

      And as a civilisation, we should say to ISIS "surrender or die ... your choice"

    5. gnasher729 Silver badge

      <quote>I’m sorry to say this but the spectacles of hate need to be removed.</quote>

      Well, they didn't remove a spectacle of hate, but at least they removed a mouthpiece.

    6. Mark 85

      One post and no troll icon.

      Now go look at the daesh and tell me again that they are full of mercy, kindness, etc. and are the embodiment of the prophet's teachings.

    7. Matt Bryant Silver badge
      FAIL

      Re: tidetide

      "....He reacted by having mercy on people and treating them with patience and kindness throughout his life...." Seriously? Please go read the Koran, even it is clear on how Mo had a penchant for killing those that opposed him, especially Jews (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banu_Qurayza).

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: tidetide

        Seriously? Please go read the Koran

        And your point is? The Bible is full of bloodthirsty extremism, it's just that these days Christians choose not to carry out the full (and often contradictory) instructions. Go back the middle ages and they certainly did.

        The problem for Islam is that it hasn't found itself, been institutionalised, bureaucratised, and got one (or two) recognised senior leaders who are sleepy old men in slippers who don't want to cause offence. Meanwhile the thugs and desperados flock to any cause as an opportunity to gain power over their fellow humans. Presumably you conflate Irish terrorism with either Catholisism, or Irish politics.

        But anyway Matt, isn't it signing on day today?

        1. Matt Bryant Silver badge
          WTF?

          Re: AC Re: tidetide

          Ah, back to playing "guess what upset El Mod". Part one of the original reply:

          "And your point is?...." It was a direct rebuttal of the statement, try actually reading the thread before tryping.

        2. Matt Bryant Silver badge
          WTF?

          Re: AC Re: tidetide

          Part three:

          "....Go back the middle ages and they certainly did...." Which just shows the irrelevance of your non-point. The difference is Christianity has evolved (and declined), whereas the ISIS crowd are determined to roll the clock back to those Middle Ages you mentioned. Your failure to see the difference is laughable.

        3. Matt Bryant Silver badge
          WTF?

          Re: AC Re: tidetide

          .... and part four:

          "....Presumably you conflate Irish terrorism with either Catholisism, or Irish politics....." And where did I say that Islam = terrorism? I specifically debunked the post of Mo being all sweetness and light. Please do try and stay vaguely within the neighbourhood of the thread, sunshine, it might help you look less like a PC-blinded denier.

        4. Matt Bryant Silver badge
          WTF?

          Re: AC Re: tidetide

          Part deux (or is that "duh"?):

          "....The Bible is full of bloodthirsty extremism....." And please do point to the Christian extremists currently using that as an excuse to behead men of other faiths and keep their women as sex slaves? Oh, you can't - what a surprise, not!

    8. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      replace

      Prophet with paedophile....

      Religion of peace my fundament......

  10. Andy Non Silver badge
    Devil

    @tidetide So much for your religion of peace. Straight from the Quran:

    Quran (8:12) - "I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them"

    Quran (3:56) - "As to those who reject faith, I will punish them with terrible agony in this world and in the Hereafter, nor will they have anyone to help."

    Quran (5:33) - "The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned; this shall be as a disgrace for them in this world, and in the hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement"

    ... and so on. The Quran is riddled with hatred, violence and murder against everyone: Disbelievers, homosexuals, women to be treated as sex-slaves and so on. The Quran and Islam is sick and evil.

    1. The Man Who Fell To Earth Silver badge
      Devil

      When God speaks

      "I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do to their fellows, because it always coincides with their own desires." - Susan B. Anthony

      1. Nigel 11

        Re: When God speaks

        Not sure who said it but "Don't listen to what they say. Watch what they do."

        [ISTR it applied to US Chriatian-Evangelical preachers, but it easily generalizes]

        BTW Islamist != Islamic. A better label hasn't been found yet. Within the islamic world I'm told these sorts are called something that translates as "heretics", but neither the force of that term nor the context survive in the translation.

    2. Triggerfish

      @ Andy Non

      To be fair the bible has a lot of that sort of bollocks as well.

      1. Roo
        Windows

        Re: @ Andy Non

        "To be fair the bible has a lot of that sort of bollocks as well."

        I suspect that many Islamaphobes don't give a toss, they usually ignore that argument because they are more interested in justifying their hatred of Muslims than peace.

        1. Andy Non Silver badge

          Re: @ Andy Non

          @Roo, I don't hate Muslims. I have contempt for Islam, which is responsible for so much hatred, violence and suppression of human rights in so many countries around the world. Also for the record I'm no fan of Christianity either, which is also responsible for so much hatred and division. Organised religion is poison however you look at it.

          1. Roo
            Windows

            Re: @ Andy Non

            "@Roo, I don't hate Muslims. I have contempt for Islam,"

            Religions are a product of the people who follow/use them, unfortunately you can't logically split one from the other.

            To paraphrase the gun lobby folks: Religions don't oppresses people, people oppress people.

        2. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: @ Andy Non

          Not all Muslims are terrorists, but all terrorists (recently) ARE Muslims..

          Go figure.

          1. Roo
            Windows

            Re: @ Andy Non

            "but all terrorists (recently) ARE Muslims.."

            That isn't true.

            1. Anonymous Coward
              Anonymous Coward

              Re: @ Roo

              All terrorists are muslims.

              https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Islamist_terrorist_attacks

              You were saying about it not being true???

              Or are simple facts about the abhorrence that is Islam too strong for you to stomach.

              1. Roo
                Windows

                Re: @ Roo

                "All terrorists are muslims.

                https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Islamist_terrorist_attacks"

                That's not a complete list of terrorist attacks because it excludes attacks that were not attributed to "Islamists", so you can not honestly draw the conclusion that "all terrorists are muslim" from that list.

                "You were saying about it not being true???"

                It's still not true just because you produced a Wikipedia list of "Islamist" terrorist attacks that excludes all attacks that were attributed to folks who aren't "Islamists".

            2. Pat Att

              Re: @ Andy Non

              It is to a first approximation.

      2. Chris Parsons

        Re: @ Andy Non

        Let's face it, if there is a god, he/she/it is a bit of a useless wanker.

    3. Mephistro

      @ Andy Non

      You have a good point there. But let's not forget that the Old Testament does exactly the same. Please allow me to modify the last sentence in your post:

      "The Ancient Testament is riddled with hatred, violence and murder against everyone: Disbelievers, homosexuals, women to be treated as sex-slaves and so on."

      There are still 'Christian' sects and groups that completely abide the Old Testament.

      "Danger, Religion!"

  11. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Religion

    A noun for a collection of deluded lunatics who hate everyone especially

    - those from a different religion

    - women

    - homosexuals

    Whilst at the same time believe in sky fairies and read books from people who thought they could talk to it

  12. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Aloha Snackbar

    Blessed are the drones for they bring forth the pink mist of justice.

    Lets hope he enjoys the 72 virgins, what they didn't tell him is that they are all fat birds from Leeds.

    I will be celebrating with a fucking massive bacon sandwich and a beer.

    Lets hope they can know up a drone strike against the cockwombles at the Westboro Baptist Church next.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Aloha Snackbar

      Lets hope he enjoys the 72 virgins, what they didn't tell him is that they are all fat birds from Leeds

      But where in the good parchments does it say "of the opposite sex"?

      The literal translation is actually that they will be forevermore served by the children

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Admiral Ackbar

      You do realise they're just testing the drones for effectiveness against their real targets, their troublesome home citizens, and it won't be westbro - they're too useful to create a stir to see how opinion is swinging on the religious extremes.

  13. Mr.Mischief

    I guess the last thing that went through his mind...

    ... was a Hellfire missile.

    Sad. He should have suffered a little bit first.

    1. GrumpenKraut
      Megaphone

      Re: I guess the last thing that went through his mind...

      > Sad. He should have suffered a little bit first.

      No. They are the cruel mindless murderous hating fucktards and WE ARE NOT.

      1. Jan 0 Silver badge
        Mushroom

        Re: I guess the last thing that went through his mind...

        Who is this WE, who ARE NOT?

        I hope that you can reassure us that none of your forebears was involved in fire bombing Tokyo, Dresden, Hamburg, etc, or carpet bombing the Iraq army, or napalming Vietnamese children, or gassing gypsies, etc., etc. How about in your lifetime? I've certainly paid taxes that have financed the killing of people from Belize, Oman, Iraq, Argentina, Northern Ireland and, no doubt, other places that I'm unaware of. How about you? Are you sure you're not a cruel murderous fucktard too? I don't like it but I find that I am nonetheless, mostly through complacency, inaction and selective attention.

        1. GrumpenKraut

          Re: I guess the last thing that went through his mind...

          > How about you? Are you sure you're not a cruel murderous fucktard too?

          I am quite unsure about which way I'd have taken in Germany's darkest times. Out of sheer luck I was born later. All I can say is that I hope we (westernes) improve over time in putting human rights into first place. My optimism in this regard has not grown over time, though.

          Yes we have many skeletons in the closet. As said in an earlier post I always have been critical about many aspects in our society.

    2. Mark 85

      Re: I guess the last thing that went through his mind...

      Pity that the missile wasn't covered in bacon drippings... I'm not sure he would even be allowed into the place with the virgin whatevers...

    3. Alan Brown Silver badge

      Re: I guess the last thing that went through his mind...

      It seems somewhat wasteful to use a hellfire to do this kind of thing.

      Seriously - these missiles are more expensive than capture, criminal trial and life imprisonment.

      Asymetric warfare at its finest. Expensive hardware vs cheap, replaceable fanatics.

      1. Matt Bryant Silver badge
        Stop

        Re: Alan Brown Re: I guess the last thing that went through his mind...

        "....these missiles are more expensive than capture, criminal trial and life imprisonment....." No, they are cheap compared to just the cost of the capture, let alone the cost of then trying and imprisoning such people. Each Hellfire fired in Afghanistan apparently cost the UK taxpayer $58k (I don't think that cost involves the expense of training drone pilots, shipping missiles or maintaining them but I may be wrong). Let's be generous and include the cost of the drone ($12.6m to the RAF for an MQ-9). But to mount a long-range mission into Syria with enough men to attack an insurgent base you'd probably need at least one HC2 Chinook ($28+m each to the RAF, before the costs of fuel, training, maintenance, etc., even more if you want a special forces HC3, as much moaned about by Lewis on this site - http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/06/04/chinook_nao_distracts_from_real_helicopter_problems/), so you're already millions better off with the Hellfire option. And that's long before we count the cost of possible casualties with the capture option Nope, I'm far, far happier with the Hellfire option.

  14. carlsonjma

    keyboard malfunction

    I'd just like to know what's wrong with the keyboards these idiots use. TriCk? TeaMp0isoN? Is your shift key return spring broken or are you really that precious?

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