Frenchman among IS militants who beheaded American

Paris, Nov 17 (EFE) At least one of the jihadis of the Islamic State (IS) radical group that appeared in the video reportedly showing the severed head of US hostage Peter Kassig is French, according to French press reports Monday.

The alleged French jihadi is identified as Maxime H. and he comes originally from a village in Normandy.

The 22-year-old Frenchman received a Catholic education before converting to Islam over a year ago and was radicalised over the internet, according to BFM TV, which interviewed him via Skype in July.

Sarah Lou Cohen, the journalist who interviewed him, said he was in the Syrian province of Raqaa and that he wanted to die as a martyr.

Terrorism expert Jean-Charles Brisard, who was among those who claimed that there was at least one Frenchman in the video, said the French secret service is putting Maxime under surveillance.

According to BFM TV, Maxime first went to Mauritania to work in a school as he wanted to travel to Mali where French forces are fighting jihadi groups, but returned home after facing difficulties.

He then went to Syria through Turkey and participated in several jihadist offensives, including IS's capture of the Iraqi city of Mosul.

The French interior ministry said it was conducting checks to confirm whether Maxime is from France which, if true, could result in him facing charges of murder and terrorism.

--IANS/EFE

ab/dg